Rare aurora seen in Brazil after intense solar storm
On January 19, Brazil got a surprise show in the sky—a rare aurora australis, something usually seen near Earth's magnetic poles.
This followed intense solar activity — including an X1.9 flare, an associated coronal mass ejection and an intense solar radiation storm — which together produced a severe geomagnetic storm that helped make the aurora visible from Cambara do Sul in southern Brazil.
Auroras usually seen near poles
A major solar radiation storm boosted particle activity way above normal, letting these colorful lights reach much lower latitudes than usual.
Astrophotographer Egon Filter caught the moment on camera, showing off a faint purple-red glow—a big deal for a country that almost never sees auroras.
Light show lasted few minutes
Solar physicist Tamitha Skov confirmed it was truly an aurora and not just another atmospheric effect.
She pointed out how rare it is to see something like this at such low latitudes.
The light show only lasted a few minutes before fading away.