AURORA LIGHT IN INDIA

• The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), is equipped with specialized cameras capable of continuously imaging the night sky. These cameras recorded persistent space activity from midnight until the twilight hours of Saturday, with the peak activity observed at 2 am on Saturday.
• Aurora lights, also known as auroras, are typically observed in high-latitude regions relative to the equator, specifically near the North and South Poles. When witnessed near the North Pole, they are referred to as Aurora Borealis, while those near the South Pole are termed Aurora Australis.
• The unusual sighting of auroras in regions like Ladakh prompts curiosity as to why they extend to lower latitudes. This phenomenon arises due to a combination of factors, including solar activity, Earth's magnetic field, and atmospheric conditions. During periods of heightened solar activity, charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetosphere, leading to the mesmerizing display of auroras.

Auroras, also known as northern and southern lights (Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis respectively), are mesmerizing displays of bright and colourful lights visible in the Earth's polar regions. These phenomena are created by the dynamic interaction between charged solar winds and the Earth's magnetosphere.

• Solar winds consist of charged particles, primarily protons and electrons, ejected from the Sun's atmosphere. On the other hand, the magnetosphere is the region surrounding the Earth where the Earth's magnetic field dominates over the magnetic field of interplanetary space. This protective shield deflects the majority of solar winds away from the Earth, particularly near the equator, but is strongest at the poles.
• Occasionally, solar wind particles penetrate the Earth's magnetosphere and travel along its magnetic field lines towards the polar regions. When these charged particles collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere, they transfer energy, causing the atoms and molecules to emit light. This phenomenon is akin to how electrons generate different colours in light bulbs.

• The visibility of auroras from Ladakh can be attributed to heightened solar flare activity in space, particularly due to the occurrence of several strong solar storms between Friday and Saturday. Solar physicists from the Centre of Excellence in Space Science India, situated at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, provided insights into these phenomena.
• The solar storms originated from Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which are massive ejections of magnetic particles and plasma from the Sun's corona, its outermost atmosphere. These CMEs emanated from AR13664, an active region on the Sun, starting on May 8.
• Traveling at a velocity of 700 km/second, the Earth-bound CMEs reached their closest point to the Earth's atmosphere on May 10 and 11, disrupting the otherwise tranquil space weather. Solar flares associated with these storms were recorded at a speed of 815 km/second upon impact with the Earth. The intensity of these solar storms exceeded the average, as noted by Indian solar physicists.
• One of the notable manifestations of these solar storms' interactions with the Earth's atmosphere was the emergence of auroras in vibrant red, violet, and blue colors. The strength of the storms was such that aurora lights became visible from numerous lower-latitude regions, including Ladakh. Additionally, auroras were observed in parts of the United States and the United Kingdom.
• Scientists drew parallels between the intensity of these recent solar storms and a similar event that affected the Earth in November 2003. This historical precedent underscores the significance of monitoring and understanding solar activity to anticipate and mitigate its potential impacts on Earth's atmosphere and technological systems.

• The Sun is currently experiencing heightened magnetic activity, with several magnetically active regions observable on its visible solar disk. These regions are generating multiple high-energy flares, contributing to increased solar activity.
• A series of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been forecasted to travel towards Earth until May 12. These CMEs, large ejections of magnetic particles and plasma from the Sun's corona, hold the potential to impact Earth's space weather significantly.
• The continuous occurrence of these solar storms poses a strong potential for disrupting space weather and inducing major disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere. These disturbances are expected to persist for the next two days, with implications for various technological systems and satellite operations reliant on stable space weather conditions.

Intense solar storms pose significant hazards, particularly to satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which typically ranges between 200-1,600 km in altitude.

• Satellites operating in LEO serve various critical functions, including navigation, military operations, intelligence gathering, and communications. These satellites rely on stable space conditions to function effectively. However, intense solar storms can interfere with satellite operations by disrupting communication signals and damaging onboard electronics.
• Earth's satellite-based systems, such as GPS and navigation systems, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of solar storms. Disruptions caused by solar storms can lead to inaccuracies in navigation data, affecting a wide range of activities reliant on precise positioning information.
• The highly energetic particle environment generated by solar storms can induce heating in the upper atmosphere, increasing the risk of radiation hazards. This radiation can pose health risks to astronauts and airline passengers, as well as impact sensitive electronics onboard aircraft and spacecraft.
• Furthermore, solar storms can lead to increased atmospheric drag on satellites positioned in LEO. Excessive drag can result in satellites experiencing intolerable levels of friction, potentially causing them to ignite and burn down. In extreme cases, this can lead to the complete cessation of satellite operations.