NASA Spotted Northern Lights in Oman for the First Time

  • Publish date: Wednesday، 03 July 2024
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The Oman Astronomical Society (OAS) has documented the aurora borealis in Oman’s skies for the first time, with confirmation from NASA. This rare sight was observed on the night of May 12, 2024, following a strong solar storm.

Capturing the Northern Lights

A team of OAS photographers captured the stunning images from Jabal al Sarat in the Al Hajar al Gharbi Starlight Reserve. The swirling greenish-blue lights moved unpredictably across the night sky, a result of solar winds interacting with Earth's magnetic field.

Verified by NASA

After capturing the images, the team reached out to NASA specialists. Extensive research and verification confirmed that the lights observed were indeed the aurora borealis, marking the first scientific documentation of this phenomenon in Oman.

A Widespread Event

This rare event was not limited to Oman. The aurora borealis was also visible in countries like Iran, Algeria, Libya, and Morocco, where such occurrences are extremely rare due to their distance from the poles.