A brilliant pink aurora borealis dances above a still lake near Lüdinghausen in this wide angle, multi panel panoramic capture from January 20, 2026. The vibrant curtains of light rise from the northern horizon, reflecting soft magenta hues in the water and contrasting with the silhouetted winter trees. The colors are rich and unusual for mid-latitude skies, suggesting strong high-energy particle interactions in Earth’s upper atmosphere and a long exposure that brings out faint stars and fine auroral textures.

This stunning event coincided with one of the most severe geomagnetic storms of the current solar cycle. A powerful solar eruption on January 18 unleashed a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth’s magnetic field on January 19 and continued through the next day, driving geomagnetic activity to G4 (Severe) levels on the NOAA scale on January 20. Forecasters predicted strong auroral activity as the CME’s charged particles interacted with Earth’s magnetosphere, expanding the auroral oval farther equatorward than usual and allowing displays across much of Europe, including Germany. K-index values reached around 8, signaling intense magnetic fluctuation conducive to vivid aurora sightings. While residual storm effects eased later in the night, the conditions were ideal for dramatic red-pink and purple auroral emissions against the winter sky.