Northern lights light up the sky: spectacle over Schleswig-Holstein!

Northern lights light up the sky: spectacle over Schleswig-Holstein!

On the night of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Northern Lights shone over Schleswig-Holstein and attracted the interest of many sky watchers. The cause of this spectacular spectacle was a strong geomagnetic solar storm that reached the second highest level G4, making it the strongest solar storm in the last 20 years. How kn online reported, the colorful lights were visible as far as the Alps and created a unique light show in the night sky in many areas, including large cities like Hamburg.

This extraordinary solar storm not only resulted in the northern lights: air traffic and satellites were also affected. The US atmospheric agency NOAA reported possible GPS failures, which impressively shows how strongly the forces of nature can influence our modern lives. Marco Ludwig from the Neumünster Observatory emphasized that Schleswig-Holstein was “in the middle of the aurora” and therefore offered ideal conditions for observation.

Pole position for northern lights

The visibility of the northern lights was particularly good in rural regions. But the colorful lights could also be observed in cities, where one is often drowned in the sea of ​​lights. Loud ndr.de Numerous impressive photos were taken in Norderney, Flensburg, Schwerin and Hamburg, while the weather often offered clear visibility. Experts assume that further sightings will also be possible on the night of Wednesday, January 21st.

Incidentally, Schleswig-Holstein is known for the fact that the Northern Lights can be seen more often on long winter nights. This is due to the high solar activity, which is expected to remain high this winter of 2026. However, visibility conditions also depend on the interplanetary magnetic field and the darkness of the sky; The best views are in places far from city lights and facing north.

The colors of the aurora

But how do these fascinating lights come about? When the sun throws electrons and particles at Earth, they enter the Earth's upper atmosphere and collide with oxygen and nitrogen particles. These collisions produce the light, with the color depending on the type of atom and the height of the collision. Often there is a green or red color that transforms the night into a vibrant blaze of color.

For those interested in photography, there are some helpful tips: The camera's manual mode is essential; Long exposure times and an open aperture increase the chance of successful shots. A tripod provides stability and a wide-angle lens can help capture the entire magnificence. The ISO value should be between 1200 and 1600 and you should focus on a bright star. Shooting in Raw format allows for better post-processing and avoiding flash is recommended.

The current moment is not only an event for adventure seekers, but also a fascinating spectacle for anyone who wants to glimpse the wonders of the universe. Stay tuned as the next few nights could bring more surprises as the Northern Lights light up our sky once again. Loud tagesschau.de There are definitely chances for this - a good reason to find your own place under the starry sky and maybe take a photo or two!