I made the above images before we traveled to Sicily - yet had forgotten to write text to this Diary page here. Anyway, we had an Auroral Outbreak over Stockholm - both at midnight of the 7 Oct, and then following late evening again towards 8th October.

Albeit the second time (and 2nd photo above), while being at the brightly lit Vällingby Metro Depot - my eyes couldn't see a thing. Nobody did. (I didn't say anything either). but the iPhone screen was full of colorful auroras. So, i made a couple of shots. The glare from the major spotlight over the train depot however, made it very difficult to frame the phone in a way, without creating too much glare.

So, while the iPhone camera did see the Northern Lights very well - it was fascinating that this was even possible. I mean the eyes were literally blind during the outbreak - I saw just nothing at all. It wasn't a major outbreak - but still one of the larger ones over Stockholm lately. Also noticeable were the many colors this time.

The really Major Outbreak one came later

Now the much, much bigger outbreak, occurred later, during the week Sal and I were together with the Family, on the Island of Vulcano, north of Sicily. Apparently that outbreak had a whopping 8.75 on the KP index scale of 9 - with auroras taken photos of, as far south as Mexico (!) Given that the earth magnetic currents are or have been weakening a lot, it appears that minor solar storms can create major auroral outbreaks. I wonder what this really means, when or if you dig deeper. I can't tell - because I don't know...

We didn't see any auroras over Sicily

- and there was a full moon, as well some light haze in the sky.

• 10 Oct 2024 20:21 • Near full moon at Vulcanello, the peninsula of Isola di Vulcano, in tropical 24°C air - Aeolian Islands / Sicily