High temporal- and spatial-resolution photographs of the “Christmas” red-green auroras taken over Germany during a main phase of the 10–11 May 2024 superstorm

3 November 2026

During the massive geomagnetic storm on 10–11 May 2024, sky-watchers in Braunschweig and Göttingen, Germany, captured rare red and green auroras. Photographs revealed vertical streaks connecting high-altitude red auroras to lower green ones. This study concludes both colors were caused by high-energy electrons raining down along Earth's magnetic field lines, pushing the space environment far enough south to align with northern Germany.

Contact: Bruce T. Tsurutani (bruce.tsurutani@gmail.com) and Yasuhito Narita (y.narita@tu-braunschweig.de)