Aurora over Rostov: How It Happened
Residents of southern Russia witnessed a rare aurora borealis on the night of January 20, triggered by a powerful solar flare.
Jan 22, 2026 0
The aurora was accompanied by a significant magnetic storm that affected the region.
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On the night of January 20, residents of Rostov Oblast witnessed an unusual phenomenon for these latitudes – the aurora borealis.
Captured near Taganrog, this image shows the vibrant colors of the aurora borealis.
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Specialists from the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of IKI and ISZF reported that on January 18, the largest solar flare since November occurred. The ejected plasma reached Earth on January 20, leading to bright auroras that were visible in most regions of Russia.
From Rostov-on-Don, observers photographed the aurora illuminating the urban night sky.
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Intense solar activity also caused a strong magnetic storm, which was observed on January 20. According to astronomers« forecasts, the magnetosphere will stabilize only by evening.
Residents of Alexandrovka witnessed the aurora with distinct green and red hues.
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The Telegram channel Rostov Glavny shared multiple images of the aurora phenomenon.
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Residents in Kamensk used Telegram to share their aurora sightings.
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Another reader-submitted photo shows the aurora over the southern Russian landscape.
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