The sky over the Hexagon has transformed into a true celestial canvas. On the evening of January 19th, between 10 PM and midnight, the Northern Lights were visible to the naked eye in several regions of France, especially in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. In the heights of Lyon, the phenomenon surprised night owls and astronomy enthusiasts, who are usually used to admiring this spectacle much further north.
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"It's not Iceland, it's definitely France"
Social media was set ablaze in no time! From Yzeron, above Lyon, a local shares about experiencing a "one-of-a-kind moment", as reported by France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. They captured a starry sky above a sea of clouds, streaked with bright green trails. Photographer Prescillia Corcione was equally amazed by what she described as “a sky never seen before in France.” The conclusion is unanimous: no need for Iceland or Lapland to dream big!
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The answer lies on the side of the Sun. According to Pierre Hadig, a mediator at the planetarium in Vaulx-en-Velin, we are currently experiencing a peak in solar activity. Every eleven years, our star goes through a more intense phase during which it ejects more plasma. The result: an increase in the northern lights, visible for about five years, even at our latitudes.
A spectacle that proves the Earth is well protected
The northern lights are not just a pretty fireworks show. They embody the protection provided by the Earth's magnetic field against solar winds. Without this shield, our atmosphere would erode, just like on Mars. A cosmic reminder that is both fascinating and reassuring, observable when the sky is clear, as it was that night.
The colors depend on the excited atoms in the atmosphere. When solar particles encounter oxygen, the auroras dress in green. With nitrogen, they turn pink. A natural chemical mix that explains why some observers were treated to a multicolored sky, worthy of the most beautiful Nordic postcards.
Source : France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes