Portugal Dazzled by Northern Lights for the Third Time This Year!

A Spectacular Phenomenon

Not once, not twice, but three times this year, Northern Lights have graced the skies of Portugal, a rare phenomenon at this latitude. On the night from Thursday to Friday, images of the aurora borealis were shared across social media platforms, showcasing its beauty from various locations throughout the country.

Widespread Sightings

Groups such as Astronomia – Portugal on Facebook shared stunning photographs taken in regions like Vila Real, Famalicão, Leiria, Seia, Lousã, and the Serra de São Mamede (Portalegre). The Meteo Trás-os-Montes website was flooded with images from Arcos de Valdevez, Bragança, Chaves, and even as far as the Madeira and Azores islands.

The Solar Activity Behind the Lights

Hours before the sightings, Meteo Trás-os-Montes issued an “aurora alert,” providing an interactive map of probable affected areas using data from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). They noted that auroras were visible across much of Europe, including countries like France, Denmark, and Germany, due to a recent solar storm. This storm was characterized by a coronal mass ejection (CME) of class X, the most energetic type, which hit Earth and triggered geomagnetic storms.

Scientific Insights

Fernando Pinheiro, a researcher at the University of Coimbra, explained that this solar eruption occurred on October 9, 2024, at 2:56 AM Lisbon time, with a strength of X1.8, marking it as a “strong” event. This CME inevitably impacted Earth, resulting in the geomagnetic storm observed that night.

The Red Hue of the Auroras

The auroras returned to various regions of Portugal on the night of October 10-11, producing a reddish hue due to the ionization of oxygen atoms at altitudes of 200 to 300 kilometers. This phenomenon allows for visibility at lower latitudes, as highlighted by Pinheiro.

A Rare Occurrence

After decades of absence, 2024 has already seen the return of auroras in May and August, coinciding with the solar cycle's peak activity. Historical records mention sightings in Portugal as far back as February 1872, and the current conditions are creating spectacular displays, albeit with potential disruptions to satellite services and communication networks.

Aurora borealis captured in the Panorâmica do Detrelo da Malhada, Arouca. Photo by Carlos Neto.