By TETSUYA ISHIKURA/ Staff Writer
May 13, 2024 at 14:53 JST
Skywatchers in Hokkaido enjoyed the rare treat of seeing the Northern Lights following a series of large solar flares that made the spectacle observed around the world.
In Oumu, Hokkaido, a faint reddish glow was visible in the north-northeastern sky around 8 p.m. on May 11 as part of the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis.
In low-latitude regions such as Japan, the lower part of the aurora, which is green, is often hidden below the horizon, leaving only the red upper portion visible.
There are ancient records of the phenomenon being seen in Japan.
The “Nihon Shoki” (The Chronicles of Japan), mentions a “red light in the sky, shaped like a pheasant tail” in the year 620. Poet Fujiwara no Teika (1162-1241) also recorded a “red light” in his diary, the “Meigetsuki.”
While auroras are often associated with the color green, they are actually red at altitudes of 250 to 400 kilometers, according to Ryuho Kataoka, an associate professor of space physics at the National Institute of Polar Research.
The lights are seen after a strong geomagnetic storm hit the Earth, which is expected to last for several days, according to the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT).
NASA and other agencies observed six of the largest X-class solar flares erupting between May 8 and 10.
These flares released high-energy particles that caused a severe disturbance to Earth's magnetic field, leading to the formation of the Northern Lights even in low-latitude regions where they are rarely seen.
According to the NICT, it has been more than 18 years since so many flares have occurred in such a short period of time.
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The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, were observed around the world following a series of large solar flares in May. In Oumu, Hokkaido, the night sky was illuminated by a vibrant red aurora on May 11. The lights in the lower left corner of the image are from the town's urban area. (Kotaro Ebara)
