Bulgaria experiences first aurora, sky turns red (not green)
What's the story
In an extraordinary celestial event, Bulgaria bore witness to a breathtaking display of the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, for the very first time. The skies of this Balkan country turned an ominous shade of red. This stunning phenomenon quickly captured the attention of social media users, with some dubbing it "apocalyptic." Let's delve into this captivating occurrence and its significance.
First
Rare first in Bulgaria
For the first time in history, the northern lights, a celestial wonder of unique colors that has fascinated humanity for centuries, graced the skies of Bulgaria. This luminous and extraordinary event unfolded on Sunday evening, beginning in the northeastern part of the country and eventually painting the heavens across the nation with shifting red hues.
Social media
Social media buzz
The appearance of the shifting red aurora borealis in Bulgaria sparked a frenzy on social media platforms. Spectators captured images and videos of the extraordinary red skies, with many describing the sight as "apocalyptic" and "spooky." Yet, amid the awe and wonder, there was a sense of excitement among those who had the privilege of experiencing this mesmerizing natural spectacle.
Widespread
Widespread phenomenon
Bulgaria was not alone in witnessing this extraordinary event. Reports also emerged of the northern lights gracing the skies in neighboring countries, including Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. Further afield, there were photos from Poland and Slovakia. The United Kingdom also witnessed dazzling green and red auroras just a night earlier, adding to the rarity of these events.
Twitter Post
Northern lights in the UK
Northern Lights over Stonehenge last night 😍✨#aurora #auroraborealis #northernlights #stonehenge
— Stonehenge U.K (@ST0NEHENGE) November 5, 2023
Photo credit Stonehenge Dronescapes on FB 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/aFh2XWOME5
Science
Science behind the northern lights
The aurora borealis typically seen near the Earth's magnetic poles result from disturbances in the planet's magnetic field during geomagnetic storms. Solar wind particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field and create auroras. The colors of the auroras, in this case, a stunning red glow, form depending on the specific gas molecules encountered by the solar wind particles in Earth's atmosphere.
Global
Global spectacle
While the northern lights are most commonly observed near the Earth's magnetic poles, there are occasional appearances in more temperate regions, such as Bulgaria. These events offer a rare opportunity for those outside polar areas to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the aurora borealis. Earlier this year, the phenomenon also debuted in India, thrilling scientists and skygazers in Ladakh.