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Northern lights illuminate the sky over Potsdam – a rare spectacle!
Northern lights illuminate Potsdam on January 20, 2026 due to a strong geomagnetic solar storm. Visible from Brandenburg to the Alps.
Northern lights illuminate the sky over Potsdam – a rare spectacle!
A fascinating natural spectacle lit up the sky over Germany on the night of January 20, 2026. Across large parts of the country, including Potsdam and Brandenburg, enthusiastic spectators were able to admire the impressive northern lights. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the reason for this extraordinary phenomenon is a geomagnetic solar storm that reached the Earth as far as the Alps during the night. Meteorologist Markus Bayer explained that a stronger eruption from the sun sent the charged particles to Earth, which then came into contact with air molecules in the Earth's atmosphere and were thus stimulated to glow.
The colorful colors of the northern lights often range from bright green to intense red. These impressive color plays are particularly visible in rural areas where light pollution from cities is not a problem. The spectacle could also be seen on a clear day in urban areas such as Hamburg and other cities.
Storm in a class of its own
The geomagnetic storm that produced the northern lights reached the second highest level G4 on Monday evening, according to the US atmospheric agency NOAA. However, such intensity also carries risks: possible interference with satellite and GPS systems has been identified. The eruption cloud only needed around 25 hours to travel from the sun to the earth - an astonishingly fast period of time, as this journey normally takes three to four days.
The sightings were particularly spectacular in northern Germany, where the lights could be seen even in regions such as Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In places like Dagebüll, where visibility was clear, the northern lights colored the sky in vivid colors despite clouds.
A look into the future
While many people were able to enjoy the natural spectacle, it remains to be seen whether the weather and conditions will improve for further Northern Lights sightings in the future. Meteorologists like Markus Bayer will continue to closely monitor the sun's activities in order to warn of similar events if necessary.
Overall, the night of January 20, 2026 offered an unforgettable experience for light lovers and nature conservation enthusiasts - another example of how nature can surprise us with its wonders.