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Auroras dazzle skies of Australia, US and the UK after powerful solar storms slam Earth

Prisha
Authored By Prisha
Published: Jul 31, 2024, 21:23 IST | Updated: Jul 31, 2024, 21:23 IST
Auroras dazzle skies of Australia, US and the UK after powerful solar storms slam Earth

Northern lights illuminate the skies of Australia.

The breathtaking northern lights dazzled in the night skies of the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia as social media platforms were flooded with mesmerising images.

A “strong geomagnetic storm watch" was earlier issued by the Space Weather Prediction Center of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for July 29-31.

Meanwhile, Australia also witnessed a dazzling display of southern lights in the skies after the powerful geomagnetic storm and more spectacular auroras are expected tonight.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology stated that geomagnetic activity can lead to the sparkling of auroras in the skies of Australia's southern states from July 29 to 31.

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“Several coronal mass ejections may impact Earth within the next 24 hours, possibly causing G1 and G2 geomagnetic storming with a slight chance for G3,” stated the agency.

“If geomagnetic activity does eventuate, aurora may be visible during local nighttime hours inTasmaniaand southern Victoria on July 31," it added.

The NOAA said that solar activity peaked on Tuesday (Jul30) as the Sun released solar flares and coronal mass ejections which hit the Earth and caused the auroras.

Because of this, the auroras were visible as far south as Oregon and Illinois in the United States and also created aurora australis in the southern hemisphere.

Here's how netizens reacted to the auroras

Australian Minister Julie Collins posted a picture of the glowing aurora on X. “Even the aurora australis last night turned out in green and gold for our Olympians!” wrote Collins.

Auroras were also seen in the skies of Australia on August 1, said the bureau, but at a “reduced probability”.

“Amazing! #Aurora has dropped as far south as Wyoming, USA during this ongoing #solarstorm! This is an auspicious start to the multiple storm train we are expecting over the next few days," said a Space Weather Physicist.

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“Absolutely beautiful," one user wrote. “Wow!! Where in Colorado are you? We’re in Boulder hoping to see them," another user said.

“Starting to show here in NorCal too! Mid-lats woohoooo," a user wrote.

“Caught this over Lake Ontario in Baker NY with an iPhone 14 Pro, 30sec exposure and a tripod," another user said.

Check out the mesmerising aurora borealis which sparkled in the skies

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A post shared by Gill Dayton/Tasmania/Australia (@tassieapplespice)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael Eastwell (@michaeleastwell)

(With inputs from agencies)

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