Overnight Geomagnetic Storm Pushes Auroras to 50° North
Researchers at Russia's Space Research Institute attributed the surge to a plasma cloud from recent weak solar flares.
Overview
- The storm struck overnight on Sunday, January 11, marking the second geomagnetic event recorded this month.
- Auroral activity peaked between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m. Moscow time, reaching the top intensity level of 10 on the monitoring scale.
- Observers reported unusually strong northern lights extending to mid‑latitudes near 50 degrees north.
- Scientists at the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy (IKI RAN) linked the disturbance to the arrival of a plasma cloud ejected by recent minor solar flares.
- RIA Novosti reported the findings from IKI RAN, and no specific technological disruptions were cited in the official account.