Overview

• A rare blue-dominant aurora was observed over Japan during a geomagnetic storm on May 11, 2024, reaching altitudes of 400–900 km.
• Researchers analyzed smartphone videos and photos from citizen scientists to study the aurora's unique longitudinal structures aligned with magnetic field lines.
• Traditional explanations involving the ring current and energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) fail to fully account for the observed phenomenon.
• Findings suggest nitrogen molecular ions were accelerated upward through an unidentified process, challenging current atmospheric science models.
• Further study of similar blue auroras could provide insights into geomagnetic storms and the behavior of nitrogen ions at high altitudes.