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Northern lights over Germany: A breathtaking spectacle tonight!
On the night of June 1, 2025, northern lights are possible in Germany, triggered by a strong solar storm.
Northern lights over Germany: A breathtaking spectacle tonight!
On the night of Monday, June 1, 2025, Germans will have the opportunity to observe a fascinating natural phenomenon: the northern lights. This comes from a report by ZVW out. The US Atmospheric Agency NOAA has recorded a mass ejection of charged particles from the sun, potentially making auroras visible to mid-latitudes.
Carolin Liefke, an expert from the House of Astronomy in Heidelberg, speaks of a high probability of northern lights sightings, particularly in the middle of Germany and in the northwest half, including North Rhine-Westphalia, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. In contrast, in the south and east of Germany, predominantly clouds as well as showers and thunderstorms are forecast, although larger easing could also be possible.
Geomagnetic storm as a trigger
Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field. The impending mass ejection could even trigger a G4 geomagnetic storm that could be visible over Europe and in many US states. Historically, a G5 storm was already observed in May 2024, which is the strongest category and made numerous northern lights visible in Germany.
Current research at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research illustrates the connection between solar activity and the formation of northern lights. Director Sami Solanki explains that our sun is currently in a phase of maximum activity that occurs every eleven years. A significant storm in October 2024 and the G5 storm in May 2024 have already caused spectacular light phenomena.
A phenomenon with economic consequences
Geomagnetic storms not only cause impressive celestial displays, but also potential damage to power grids and satellites. It is estimated that extreme space weather events can cause socio-economic damage of up to 15 billion euros in Europe. Despite the fascination with the northern lights, caution is still advised as the dangerous charged particles can also have negative effects, such as overloading power grids during particularly violent storms.
The visibility of auroras varies greatly across the region, but is not limited to high latitudes. These light phenomena can also occur in Germany, especially on the North Sea, as the events of last year have shown.
Overall, predicting auroras remains a challenge because the arrival of the charged particles can often only be predicted at short notice. The Kp index, which measures the disturbance of the earth's magnetic field, plays an important role here: higher values indicate an increased probability of northern lights sightings. This means that the next few hours and days will be particularly exciting for all enthusiasts who want to experience the magical lights in the sky.