Overview
- Polar lights were visible across Germany on the night of January 19–20, with widespread sightings between about 22:00 and 23:15 and red and green hues reported from Berlin and Hamburg to the Alpine foreland.
- NOAA classified the geomagnetic storm at G4, with the Kp index near 8, prompting cautions about possible effects on satellites and GPS and short-term visibility alerts.
- The coronal mass ejection reached Earth in roughly 25 hours—much faster than the typical three to four days—leading to a short, high-intensity peak.
- Experts link the display to elevated activity during the current solar maximum, which has increased the frequency and strength of solar eruptions.
- Outlooks indicate declining geomagnetic activity and lower odds of repeat displays in Germany in the next nights, though monitoring tools and NOAA’s 30-minute forecasts may still highlight brief opportunities.