close
close

SUPER SNAPPERS – Your Coventry Northern Lights pictures

Coventry residents took the opportunity to photograph the Northern Lights when they made a rare appearance last night.

There could also be a chance to see the Aurora Borealis again tonight and tomorrow morning.

The amazing sight was made possible – for the first time in 20 years – by a powerful geomagnetic storm that hit Europe.

Here is a selection of your images of this amazing spectacle, along with some facts about the phenomenon.

Photo by Diogo Bartolomeu

Natural phenomenon: The aurora borealis, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is a natural light display seen predominantly in the high latitude regions around the Arctic Circle.

Image by Simon Gibbons (Hinckley).

Charged particles: They occur when charged particles emitted by the sun, primarily electrons and protons, collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions release energy in the form of light.



Image by Steve Buckley (Hawkesbury Village)

Colors: The northern lights often appear in different colors, including green, pink, red, blue and purple. The colors depend on the type of gas particles that collide with the charged particles and their altitude.

Photo by Lisa Davison-Walters

The influence of the magnetic field: The Earth’s magnetic field directs charged particles toward the poles, which is why the northern lights are primarily visible in the polar regions.

Picture by Simon Gibbons

Solar activity: The intensity and frequency of the northern lights correlate with solar activity, particularly during periods of high sunspot activity in the solar cycle.

Image by Regan Kowalski (Bulkington)

Historical Beliefs: Throughout history, various cultures have attached spiritual or mythological significance to the northern lights. For example, some arctic indigenous communities believed they were the spirits of their ancestors.

Nay Gomes photo

Visibility: The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the winter months when the nights are longest and the sky is darkest. Locations with minimal light pollution and clear skies offer the best viewing conditions.

Photo by Sarah Goodwin

Spectacular displays: Sometimes the northern lights produce spectacular displays known as auroral storms, characterized by intense and widespread auroras that can be seen at lower latitudes than usual.

Photo by Lisa Davison-Walters

Southern counterpart: A similar phenomenon occurs in the southern hemisphere and is called Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights. It shares many characteristics with the aurora borealis, but is primarily visible from high southern latitudes.

Scientific research: Scientists study the aurora borealis to understand more about Earth’s magnetosphere, solar activity, and the interaction between the sun and our planet’s atmosphere. Understanding these phenomena has implications for space weather forecasting and satellite communications.

Related Articles

Back to top button