Intense solar storm sparks uncommon aurora in Ladakh
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Intense solar storm sparks uncommon aurora in Ladakh

The dark sky over parts of Ladakh was illuminated by a crimson glow, an unusual phenomenon known as a stable auroral red arc event, observed at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in the high Himalayas. This celestial display was attributed to powerful solar magnetic storms emitted towards Earth. Scientists from the Centre of Excellence in Space Sciences in India (CESSI), Kolkata, revealed that these solar storms, originating from the AR13664 region of the sun, had generated numerous high-energy solar flares, with some hurtling towards Earth at speeds reaching 800 km/s.

In the northern hemisphere, observers in Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark, and Poland were treated to mesmerizing auroras or northern lights, which adorned the skies at higher latitudes. Enthusiasts eagerly shared their captures of these celestial dances on various social media platforms.

At the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, astronomers witnessed a remarkable sight as a red glow appeared on the northwest horizon around 1 am on May 11, persisting until early dawn. Stanzin Norla, an engineer at the reserve, recounted their fortunate experience of observing Aurora activities through their all-sky camera during routine telescope observations. He noted that a subtle red hue was discernible to the naked eye along the horizon, while a DSLR camera installed at the reserve captured the event in exquisite detail.

According to Stanzin, the spectacle unfolded from approximately 1 am to 3:30 am, with the sky transitioning from a deep red hue along the horizon to a softer pinkish tone later on. Dorje Angchuk, an engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, characterized the event as a stable auroral red arc, a rare phenomenon gracing the skies above Ladakh.

The dark sky over parts of Ladakh was illuminated by a crimson glow, an unusual phenomenon known as a stable auroral red arc event, observed at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in the high Himalayas. This celestial display was attributed to powerful solar magnetic storms emitted towards Earth. Scientists from the Centre of Excellence in Space Sciences in India (CESSI), Kolkata, revealed that these solar storms, originating from the AR13664 region of the sun, had generated numerous high-energy solar flares, with some hurtling towards Earth at speeds reaching 800 km/s. In the northern hemisphere, observers in Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark, and Poland were treated to mesmerizing auroras or northern lights, which adorned the skies at higher latitudes. Enthusiasts eagerly shared their captures of these celestial dances on various social media platforms. At the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, astronomers witnessed a remarkable sight as a red glow appeared on the northwest horizon around 1 am on May 11, persisting until early dawn. Stanzin Norla, an engineer at the reserve, recounted their fortunate experience of observing Aurora activities through their all-sky camera during routine telescope observations. He noted that a subtle red hue was discernible to the naked eye along the horizon, while a DSLR camera installed at the reserve captured the event in exquisite detail. According to Stanzin, the spectacle unfolded from approximately 1 am to 3:30 am, with the sky transitioning from a deep red hue along the horizon to a softer pinkish tone later on. Dorje Angchuk, an engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, characterized the event as a stable auroral red arc, a rare phenomenon gracing the skies above Ladakh.

Next Story
Technology

We’re building robots that flow, not just move

Founded in 2021, Flo Mobility is reimagining construction automation with vision-AI robots designed for seamless movement through complex sites. In conversation with CW, Manesh Jain, Founder & CEO, discusses the company’s origin, its LiDAR-free tech stack, and expansion plans in the Middle East and US.What inspired the name Flo Mobility? Why ‘Flo’ and not ‘Flow’?When we started the company in 2021, our focus was on building autonomous navigation systems for robots. Since our work centred around robot movement, ‘mobility’ naturally became part of the name. We wanted to co..

Next Story
Real Estate

We’re committed to setting benchmarks in sustainable luxury living

From a landmark land acquisition in Boisar to ambitious launches across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), National Capital Region (NCR), Bengaluru and Pune, Birla Estates is driving future-ready growth with a strong focus on sustainability, partnerships and premium living, firmly anchored in its LifeDesigned® philosophy. K T Jithendran, Managing Director & CEO, outlines the company’s premium, sustainable growth playbook in conversation with PRATAP PADODE, Editor-in-Chief, CW. Excerpts:Birla Estates recently acquired a 70.92-acre land parcel in Boisar, Maharashtra, for..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Mumbai’s land crunch and ageing homes call for structured renewal

Founded in 2022, Etonhurst Capital Partners is a real-estate fund management platform focused on the Indian market. As the firm achieves the first close of Rs 1.8 billion for its debut Rs 5 billion fund, Bamasish Paul, Co-founder, Managing Partner & CEO, discusses its sharp focus on redevelopment-driven value creation in Mumbai’s urban core with CW. Excerpts:Etonhurst Capital has achieved a significant milestone with the first close of Rs 1.8 billion for its Rs 5 billion fund. What factors contributed to this early success and how do you plan to attract further investments to r..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?