Sun lights up high-latitude countries in a “Solar Deepavali”
The Hindu
Scientists from CESSI, IISER, Kolkata, accurately predicted the event using indigenously developed models and data from NASA’s observatories
A solar flare that occurred on the Sun has triggered a magnetic storm which scientists from Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI), in Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, had arrived at the Earth in the early hours of November 4.
They had said that the magnitude of this storm would be such as to trigger spectacular displays of aurora (the coloured bands of light seen in the North and South poles) in the high-latitude and polar regions, just in time for the Deepavali celebrations in India.
This prediction, which was based on models built by them and data from NASA’s observatories, is being confirmed and several countries in the Northern hemisphere will see aurorae.