It was admired throughout the night, but at around 3 am the Northern Lights reached their maximum splendor in Monte Grappa.
A more unique than rare event, the emotion was strong for all those who saw it. Immortalized by Carlo Guadagnin in Grappa.
In Treviso he was photographed by Roberto Garofalo.
The Northern Lights, also called the Northern Lights, are a spectacular optical phenomenon that occurs in the night sky, primarily in high-latitude regions (near the poles). In Italy, the Northern Lights are a relatively rare event, but not impossible, especially in the northern regions.
The geomagnetic storm of May 10, 2024
The Northern Lights seen in Italy on May 10 and 11, 2024 were caused by a strong geomagnetic storm. A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field caused by the emission of charged particles from the Sun. These charged particles, traveling in space, interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and deform it. When these charged particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they give up their energy to the atoms and molecules in the air, exciting them. These atoms and molecules, returning to their normal state, emit light, creating the effect of the Northern Lights.
Why are the Northern Lights more frequent in Italy recently?
There are several reasons why the Northern Lights have been seen more frequently in Italy recently:
- Increased solar activity: The Sun goes through periods of increased and decreased activity. In periods of greater solar activity, like the current one, the Sun emits more charged particles, increasing the probability of strong geomagnetic storms and, consequently, of the Northern Lights even at lower latitudes such as those in Italy.
- Light Pollution: Light pollution makes it more difficult to see the Northern Lights. As light pollution increases in cities, it becomes more difficult to observe this phenomenon unless you are in remote, dark areas. However, in recent years, with the adoption of more efficient LED lamps, light pollution in some areas has decreased, favoring the observation of the Northern Lights.
Photo by Carlo Guadagnin from Meteo Bassano and Pedemontana del Grappa.
