Northern Lights in India

• The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) above Mount Saraswati captured a rare phenomenon as a geomagnetic storm struck Earth’s magnetic field, creating unique auroras.
  • This was the first time that the aurora was captured on camera in India by the Indian Astronomical Observatory.
• The 360-degree camera atop the IAO in Hanle ,Ladakh captured the mysterious phenomenon, which is triggered by an interaction between the plasma particles hurled by the Sun and Earth’s magnetic field.
• The auroras are normally seen at higher latitudes in parts of Alaska, Norway, and other countries.

About Auroras

• Charged particles ejected from Sun’s corona create solar wind.
  • When that wind slams into Earth’s ionosphere, the aurora is born.
• In the Northern Hemisphere, the phenomenon is called the northern lights (aurora borealis), while in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s called the southern lights (aurora australis).
• The hemispheric asymmetry of the aurora is due in part to the sun’s magnetic field interfering with Earth’s magnetic field.