Unusual Crimson Aurora Dazzles Siberia, Sparks Mars Comparisons
Residents of Siberia witnessed a rare crimson aurora that reached as far south as Krasnoyarsk on January 20.
Jan 22, 2026 0
Auroras typically display hues of yellow and green, unlike this crimson event.
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Residents of Krasnoyarsk Krai saw an unusual aurora. On the night of January 20, the sky lit up with a bright crimson color. Photos are being shared on social media.
The unusual crimson shade evoked comparisons to the Martian landscape from popular culture.
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The Tunguska Nature Reserve published not only photos but also an explanation of this phenomenon.
As the aurora began to fade, it continued to mesmerize with its vibrant colors.
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«A solar mass ejection that occurred on the Sun last night reached our planet and caused an extreme storm,» is written on the reserve«s public page on VKontakte.
A mixture of colors swirled across the night sky during the aurora display.
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For example, in the village of Vanavara, such a polar aurora flashed at half past four in the morning, which was unexpected for residents.
This photograph shows the aurora in its natural state without any digital filters.
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«Usually, the aurora looks smooth and soft. But here everything went differently: the skies turned a Martian shade. And, honestly, there was only one thought: »Is this even planet Earth or have we already moved to Mars?«»
Many social media users expressed a wish to witness the spectacle themselves.
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In the Telegram channel «Laskovyy Spetsnaz» (Gentle Special Forces), a girl interested in celestial phenomena shared not only photos but also videos. It turns out the aurora reached even Krasnoyarsk.
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«Wow! I want everyone to see this! Just the scale! The whole sky is on fire! The whole sky is on fire!» exclaims the girl in the video.
She specified that this phenomenon was observed around five or six in the morning. They noticed the bright crimson lights while leaving Solnechny.
The magnetic storm also reached Novosibirsk. It will last two days.
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