Polar Lights (Aurora Borealis)

May 10th -11th 2024, Maisach/Fuerstenfeldbruck, South Germany

Photographies by Thorsten Boeckel


Bows and light pillars

" kind of divine "

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

The full aurora arc over Bavaria (22:15 UTC).

(Composite of four individual shots, Sony a73, 24mm f2, Iso 1600, exp 2sec, Sigma Art)


First aurora ca. 20.30 UTC, (22:30 CEST, 10th of May)

The beginning

  

Already at dusk the first beamers could be observed !

   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   

Almost after nearly 20 years waiting time there was finally an extreme polar sighting again in southern Bavaria (Very seldom in this southern lain areas). This great light spectacle was really fantastic and in addition a historical event. I would even classify this aurora as extremely bright. Above all the beamers and bows etc.. were noticable very intense in all colours by recocnising three main phases from 20:30 - 01:30 UTC with a very high KP Index of 9°  *

In the foreground the village of Rottbach near Maisach

 AURORA TIME LAPSE    Video 1 (the beginning)       Video 2


Second impact and brightest aurora beginning about 22.15 UTC, (00:15 CEST,11th of May)

Change of colour

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

Violett prephase ca. 22:00 UTC (00:00 CEST)

AURORA TIME LAPSE         Video 3         Video 4

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

Related to the photo on the top of this site, fast changing colours inside the very bright 160° bow up to a max. height of 50°  over hirizon. Duration of brightest phase about 15 min ( ~ 22:15 UTC).


Here the first aurora phenomen !

The SAR-Bow  ~ 22:25 UTC ( ~ 00.25 CEST)

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel      

Nikon Fisheye 10,5mm, 180°, Iso 1600, f4, exp. 10sec   

AURORA TIME LAPSE / SAR    Video 5

A seldom aurora phenomen appeared. A SAR (Stabile Aurora Red) bow which enveloped the whole polar light. May there ist also a second one. It was first discovered in 1954.


And the next aurora phenomen !

RAGDA - spots !    ~ 22:30 - 23:15h UTC  ( ~ 00:30 - 01:15h CEST)

But what does it means? This is a very late discovered aurora phenomenon. Red Arc with Green Diffuse  Aurora. The seldom stunnig apperance offers pulsing green clouds in accordance of red arcs. It seems that you observe a fantastic celestial disco lighting which you can OBSERVE CLEARLY WITH THE NAKED EYE (watch Video 6).

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

  Sony a73,  Sigma Art 24mm,  f2, Iso 3200, exp 1sec,

AURORA TIME LAPSE / RAGDA   Video 6

 Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

  Sony a73,  Sigma Art 24mm,  f2, Iso 3200, exp 1sec,

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

The colored pulsing sky in a wide angle objektiv. (Nikon Fisheye 10,5mm, 180°, ,f4, 7sec, streched horizontal)

Video 7  (timelapse of 9 minutes, begin 00.44 CEST)        Video 8  (timelapse of 12 minutes, begin 00.55 CEST)


Three hours in one minute, beginn  ~ 22:30 UTC ( ~ 00.30 CEST)

   

Video 9 


And may the next aurora phenomen !

The sky claw    ~ 23:10 UTC ( ~ 01.10 CEST)

And this special was shown at the southern sky behind us (height ca. 60°). It looked like a big claw which wanted to crab me. Uaah! A new observation rarity ?

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

(Nikon Fisheye 10,5mm, 180°,  Iso 1600, f4, exp. 7sec, streched horizontal)

 AURORA TIME LAPSE / ClAW    Video 10     Video 11    Video 12


 Colorful aurora skies at the zenith area reaching to the “claw” beamer further south

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

  Sony a73,  Sigma Art 24mm,  f2, Iso 3200, exp 1sec,

The beamer have now a weak south - west alignment

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel 


Third aurora  ca. 01:00 UTC, (03:00 CEST,11th of May)

The last show

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel  Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

Beamers shining through the beginning dawn

AURORA  TIME LAPSE       Video 13


Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel   Polar lights, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 May 2024, Germany, Europe, by Thorsten Boeckel

After 7 hours foto stress :-) relaxing in the twilight.

No Video ;-)


Aurora (weak visual) in the next evening ca. 20.30 UTC, ( 22:30 CEST, 11th of May )

Polarlichter, Aurora Borealis 10 - 11 Mai 2024, Bayern, Deutschland, Europa, by Thorsten Böckel


Datas of the polar lights 10/11 May 2024

    

Trigger: X1.0-flare, as well as a series of other flares.   Effect: G5 storm with a very high KP Index of 9° *

24 hours aurora oval 

Source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center


Basics about sightings of Aurora Borealis also known as Northern- or polar lights, in middle latitudes

KP index*: Roughly speaking, auroras can already be observed visually from KP 5-6 (G1/2 storm) in northern Germany. At KP 7/8 (G3/4 storm) or above also in southern Germany (Alps to southern Europe). Among other things, the density and speed of the flares or CME's (earth directed solar mass ejection forms) or corona holes are relevant parameters for the strength of the solar storms and visual sightings. But the Bz value which definite the north- south  alignment of the earth magnetic field ( May 2024, Bz -50nT ) is the most important factor. If this Bz value is to weak, the protons can't invade in the earth magnetic field. By the way, the glowing phenomenon is triggered by 'animated' oxygen and nitrogen atoms. Oxygen up to ~100 km shows greenish and from ~100-200 km red to orange colors. Nitrogen atoms up to ~300 km height shows more seldom purple or blue colors.



More at: Polarlicht-Vorhersage für Deutschland



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