For centuries, the Northern Lights have captivated observers.
Many hunters of this mesmerizing display of colors that light up the night sky say it takes patience and endurance in harsh weather conditions.
But researchers have found a way to artificially recreate this elusive natural phenomenon.
This could improve weather forecasting in near space, to protect satellites and the infrastructure there.
Researchers from the Swedish Institute for Space Physics launched a “BROR” sounding rocket last week from the Esrange space center in the far north of Sweden to release materials into the atmosphere.
The Northern Lights scientists behind the experiment say the waves of greenish-white lights stay in the sky longer than typical fireworks because they are launched from a much higher altitude.
“This is probably one of the most beautiful rocket launches I have ever seen since Esrange”said Krister Sjölander, vice president of scientific services and head of payloads and flight systems at the Swedish Space Corporation.
“Most importantly, this research will pave the way for a better understanding of space weather, the Northern Lights phenomenon and how it affects space infrastructure, which is crucial for our societies on Earth.”he added.
How do the Northern Lights affect satellites?
The Northern Lights are caused by geomagnetic storms, when charged particles collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, but extremely strong storms can disrupt telegraph services.
In February 2022, a minor geomagnetic storm affected up to 40 brand new Starlink satellites and Space X lost them all.
“People these days cannot imagine life without GPS, satellite TV, mobile phones, etc. And to have all of that, we need to understand space weather”explains Tima Sergienko, scientific manager of the experiment at the Swedish Institute for Space Physics.
Similar experiments have been carried out around the world for decades, but experts say the technology and cameras are much more advanced today.
“The first experiment here in Esrange was in 1967. Back then it was only possible to use film for the camera. But today, with modern digital instruments, we can achieve much more information from these experiments and optical measurements,” says Tima Sergienko.
On the same day, the strongest geomagnetic storm in six years shook the Earth’s magnetic field.
Extraordinarily spectacular auroras showered the skies of northern Finland, the United States and Canada.
The somewhat less spectacular man-made spectacle of the experience ended up masking a true aurora borealis occurring naturally in northern Sweden.