Photos wey people take during strong solar storm for May 2024 don give researchers new clue about why some auroras dey glow red. One study wey Annales Geophysicae publish on 3 November 2026 examine images from Braunschweig and Göttingen for Germany. Na the published analysis be the new development, no be new storm or sighting for Nigeria.
The team notice bright rays wey run from the red glow above enter the green aurora below. That connected pattern matter because e link two colours wey researchers fit otherwise study separately. When the authors compare the pictures with measurements of solar wind and Earth magnetic conditions, dem conclude say energetic electrons wey travel along Earth magnetic field lines na the main cause of both sets of rays for this event.
Na interpretation of observations be this, and e get important limit. The paper say nobody directly measure the particles wey cause these red auroras during the storm. Photos give indirect evidence wey fit help researchers choose between different explanations. The result no prove say every red aurora, for every storm, must happen exactly the same way.
The photos also show why timing and camera settings fit matter for research. If camera exposure too long, e fit blur pattern wey dey change until e look like smooth glow. The researchers public appeal ask photographers to use exposure wey no pass six seconds when dem dey record future auroras, so narrow rays go still show. Philipp Schulz take the Braunschweig photo for the study at 22:16 UTC on 10 May 2024.
The work bring researchers from different countries together and show practical way citizen science fit help: careful observations wey people make outside laboratory fit become evidence for science question. E no mean say every fine sky picture prove discovery. The place, date, direction and conditions wey dem take am help researchers know wetin the image fit reliably show.
Wetin e mean for you. For Nigerian students and photography clubs, the useful lesson na to record details of wetin you see before you share explanation. Keep the original file and note when and where you take am. This report no be forecast say aurora go show for Nigeria, and e no claim say the German observations happen here. The photo wey follow am get label wey show the real place and 2024 date.