Overview
Auroras, sometimes referred to as the Aurora Arboreal or the Northern Lights, usually occur nearer to the poles and have a greenish hue. But Mongolia was treated to a spectacular show of auroras that were brilliant red in color.
Mongolia recently saw a unique celestial phenomenon: a rare aurora occurrence that turned the country’s skies a rich, blood-red color. The initial effect of a major solar storm on Earth produced the amazing coloration that astounded onlookers.
Auroras, sometimes referred to as the Aurora Arboreal or the Northern Lights, usually occur nearer to the poles and have a greenish hue. But Mongolia was treated to a spectacular show of auroras that were brilliant red in color.
The interaction between solar particles and oxygen at high altitudes—more precisely, above 241 km above the Earth’s surface, when the atmosphere is noticeably thinner—is responsible for this rarity.
Considered one of the rarest hues of the Northern Lights, the peculiar shade of red seen is strongly associated with times of increased solar activity. This phenomena was caused by a solar storm that is still running strong. It started on November 27, 2023, when the Sun sent out many coronal mass ejections (SMEs), with the first wave hitting Earth on November 29.
At higher altitudes, solar particles interacting with oxygen molecules gave rise to the red auroras. These collisions happen less frequently because of the reduced oxygen density at such high altitudes, which causes red light to be emitted rather than the more usually seen green. This process is similar to how neon lights work, in which excited gas atoms return to their ground state and release light photons.
In the past, strong geomagnetic storms—like the Harrington Event of 1859, the strongest solar storm ever recorded—have been linked to red auroras. Red auroras were observed during this event, with reports reaching as far south as the Caribbean and Mexico. The skies were so brilliant that birds started singing, thinking it was morning.
The red aurora that occurs in Mongolia offers scientists a rare chance to research the consequences of solar storms at lower latitudes. Even while the show is captivating, it serves as a reminder of the Sun’s enormous power and the possible effects that solar weather may have on our technologically advanced civilization.
Sky watchers should expect increasingly spectacular aurora displays as the solar cycle moves closer to its anticipated peak in 2024. However, few could match the intensity and uniqueness of the blood-red skies over Mongolia, making this a stellar event that will live in the memory for its remarkable and breathtaking qualities.