A post on social media about the extremely rare phenomenon of the Northern Lights that became visible for the first time as far as the Balkan countries and reached Serres was published by the National Observatory of Athens.

“Auroras at such low latitudes only occur during strong magnetic storms. The red color of the aurora is emitted by excited atomic oxygen during its collision with electrons in the Earth’s magnetosphere. Its form can be likened to moving, brilliant, colored heavenly curtains of light,” the publication states, among other things.

The post in detail:

“To Selas appeared in the Greek sky.

Last night, November 5, 2023, an aurora was observed from areas of northern Greecea phenomenon we rarely see in our country.
Auroras at such low latitudes only occur during strong magnetic storms. Magnetic storms are caused by disturbances in the geomagnetic field as it interacts with our sun’s magnetic field (via the solar wind).

The magnetic storm recorded yesterday characterized by intensity G3 (on the scale from G1 to G5).

The aurora is created by high-energy electrons, which as they move helically along the dynamic lines of the geomagnetic field, sometimes approach the Earth’s upper atmosphere, collide with atoms and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen and excite them energetically. Excited atoms and molecules, in order to return to the original, stable state of energy balance, emit the excess energy in the form of visible radiation.

The red color of the aurora emitted by excited atomic oxygen during its collision with electrons in the Earth’s magnetosphere.

The form of aurora it can be likened to moving, brilliant, colored heavenly curtains of light.

The intensity of a magnetic storm is described by the geomagnetic index Dst, which expresses the change in the Earth’s magnetic field, as measured on the ground. THE yesterday’s value fell to -165 nT, which characterizes a strong magnetic storm.”