"Moderate" chances of seeing auroras on Sunday night
After a solar storm, auroras could also be visible over Germany on Sunday night. But if you want to see them, you'll have to be a little lucky, as Carolin Liefke from the Association of Star Friends in Heppenheim, Hesse, explained to the German Press Agency on Saturday. The chances of seeing the phenomena in the sky over Germany are moderate. "It probably won't be spectacular," she said.
The greatest probability is in Schleswig-Holstein and beyond in Scandinavia, Liefke said. In the more southerly parts of Germany, the chances of seeing auroras would be around 30 to 40 percent. "But surprises are always possible," she added. The best time to keep your eyes open to the north is around midnight. It will be important to see how many solar particles reach the earth after the latest eruption.
The weather on Sunday night must also play along. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the best chances of larger gaps in the clouds will probably be southwest of a line from North Rhine-Westphalia to Bavaria. In the north and east, however, it will probably be cloudy. Showers are to be expected on the edge of the Alps, with some clearing possible in the second half of the night, said DWD meteorologist Nico Bauer.
Ideally, auroras should be observed away from artificial light sources: "You shouldn't stand under the nearest street lamp, but as far away from the city as possible," advised Liefke in the event that auroras are visible. You also need a clear view towards the northern horizon.
The phenomenon is caused by solar flares, which result in a so-called coronal ejection of mass towards the earth, consisting of electrons, protons and atomic nuclei. Because components of the plasma are electrically charged, they interact with the Earth's magnetic field and virtually compress it. Magnetic short circuits in the tail of the Earth's magnetic field generate particle currents in the polar regions, which excite the air particles to glow, making them visible as green or red auroras.
If you're interested in witnessing the auroras, astronomy enthusiasts might suggest heading to Schleswig-Holstein or Scandinavia, as these areas have the greatest probability of seeing the phenomenon due to the solar storm. However, even in southern Germany, you might still have a 30 to 40% chance, though it may not be as spectacular as in the north.
Source: www.dpa.com
