Northern lights shine bright for the first time over Greece’s north

For the first time ever, the Northern Lights were spotted by residents of Central Macedonia in Greece.

Protothema.gr reported that the lights were visible to almost all of Europe.

Το βόρειο Σέλας έφτασε ως τις Σέρρες pic.twitter.com/og3KVBAkgs

— Σωτήρης Παπ. (@sotpap1997) November 5, 2023

The director of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, Thodoris Kolidas, said this rare moment was caused due to an extremely strong solar flare which then generated a particularly strong geomagnetic storm which remains ongoing over the Northern Hemisphere.

Από Σέρρες
Το βορειο Σελας ορατό και στην Ελλάδα λόγο ισχυρής μαγνητικής καταιγίδας!!
#Aurora
Πηγη:Demetris Kastoris

Ορατό και από την Λεπτοκαρυά Πιερίας . #Auroraborealis pic.twitter.com/0qytgkEs6R

— ariana (@ariana712251) November 6, 2023

The reason behind the red colour comes from collisions of lower energy particles with oxygen atoms at high altitudes (240 km), after intense solar activity that causes a huge ejection of solar plasma from the surface of the Sun which is directed towards the Earth.

Source: Protothema.gr.