The aurora borealis can rarely be seen in Portugal
Stunning footage of the aurora borealis seen from Portuguese skies was filmed by TAP pilots during a flight between San Francisco (USA) and Lisbon, delighting thousands on social media.
“When you get the best seat on the plane and the best view on the flight,” the airline said in the caption of the video, which was shared on November 4 on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Quando tens o melhor lugar no avião e a melhor vista do voo. 👨✈️✈️
When you get the best seat on the plane and the best view on the flight. 👨✈️✈️
📷 YouTube: @bestairplaneseat pic.twitter.com/fkOtAuymln
— TAP Air Portugal (@tapairportugal) November 4, 2023
The aurora borealis can rarely be seen in Portugal, with this exception being attributed to a strong solar storm, as reported by Space.com, which made the northern lights visible in other countries where they can rarely be seen such as Greece and Turkey.
Photos of the aurora were also shared on social media by Márcio Santos from meteorology page Meteo Trás os Montes – Portugal.
The photos were later shared by Dr. Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist.
Surreal! Add Portugal to the list of #aurora sightings! This #solarstorm really outperformed its G3-level ranking. This shows how a strong magnetic field and high density can compensate for a slower solar wind speed to bring #aurora deep into mid-latitudes. Thanks for reporting! https://t.co/pgKMnkW4bj
— Dr. Tamitha Skov (@TamithaSkov) November 6, 2023
“Surreal! Add Portugal to the list of #aurora sightings! This #solarstorm really outperformed its G3-level ranking. This shows how a strong magnetic field and high density can compensate for a slower solar wind speed to bring #aurora deep into mid-latitudes,” she said on X.
By Michael Bruxo
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
