New Delhi: In an unexpected celestial spectacle, auroras illuminated the night skies over Leh on the intervening night of October 10-11, painting the horizon with vibrant hues of red, green, and purple. This rare sighting was observed from the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh which is the highest observatory in India and located over 3,000 meters above sea level.
India witnessed auroras for the first time on the nights of April 22-23, 2023. This rare display was captured by the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle. The auroras occurred following a geomagnetic storm triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun, which reached Earth around April 23.
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These auroras are exceptionally rare in India, as the country lies far from the polar regions where such events are typically visible. These events have occurred in Ladakh, specifically at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle because of minimal atmospheric interference and low light pollution, making it an ideal spot to observe rare astronomical events like this.
Astronomers and scientists at Hanle Observatory documented vivid red auroral emissions using specialized telescopes, attributing the colors to oxygen interacting with charged particles released by the solar storm. Nitrogen produces purple and blue shades, while oxygen generates green and red colors.
Experts caution that on one side such storms offer awe-inspiring displays but on the other hand they also carry risks which include communication blackouts and interruptions to electrical infrastructure.
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The auroras in Leh provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience for locals and astronomers alike, offering a glimpse into the wonders of space weather. As the Sun continues to approach its peak activity, more such phenomena may occur, turning skies across the world into cosmic canvases but with reminders of the Sun’s unpredictable power.
With this rare spectacle now recorded in Ladakh, it stands as a testament to both the beauty and volatility of our universe.