İzmir and Red Aurora Borealis

From the photographer: “Last night, a very unusual and exciting natural event occurred. For the first time at the 38th parallel, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) were seen in Izmir. The eruption of sunspot AR3848, which was facing Earth, created a spectacular visual display in the atmosphere with a significant influx of charged particles.

Here are two shots from Izmir. The photos were published exactly as they came out of the camera.

Red aurora is a type of Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) that typically occurs at higher altitudes, especially above 300 kilometers. These types of auroras are usually produced as a result of interactions with oxygen atoms in the atmosphere.

The red light generally forms in the higher layers of the atmosphere, particularly in the ionosphere. Red auroras are produced by high-energy charged particles that interact with oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. As a result of this interaction, oxygen atoms lose energy and emit red light.

Red auroras are seen less frequently than green auroras and are typically less prominent. Observing a red aurora is more likely during periods of strong solar activity and usually occurs as part of the overall display of the Aurora Borealis.”