The nights of January 19 and 20 at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh were anything but ordinary. Typically, the vast, deep blue sky is adorned only by stars and galaxies, but on these nights, a crimson aurora akin to the Northern Lights illuminated the sky.
These striking images went viral on social media, but scientists caution that this spectacle is not merely beautiful — it signals an increase in solar activity. This poses a significant threat to India’s satellites, power grids, and digital infrastructure.
What Happened? – The Solar Storm
On January 19, 2026, a powerful X-class solar flare erupted from the sun, the most intense type of solar flare.
Consequently, a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) unfolded, sending a vast cloud of magnetized plasma and gas hurtling toward Earth at 1,700 km per second. It reached Earth in just 25 hours.
This triggered a G4-level geomagnetic storm and an S4-level solar radiation storm, the most potent since 2003.
The all-sky camera at Hanle, operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), captured this event. Remarkably, it marked the sixth occurrence of such an event in this solar cycle.
Why Did We See a Red Aurora? – The Scientific Explanation
An aurora forms when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth's magnetic field and activate the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere. Typically, auroras appear green at polar regions (North/South) due to these collisions, but the red hue seen over lower latitude regions like Hanle is caused by high-altitude oxygen atoms about 300 km up, especially prevalent during the sun's solar maximum.
Why is This a Threat to India?
Beneath this beauty lurks a significant threat...
Impact on Satellites: Solar storms compress Earth's magnetic shield. The Aditya-L1 mission by ISRO demonstrated that the sun's harmful solar winds could even impact geostationary satellites 36,000 km up, potentially forcing satellites out of their orbits due to drag.
Power Grid Disruptions: Solar storms can induce geomagnetic currents that overheat transformers and cause blackouts.
GPS, Banking, and Communication Disruptions: GPS signals may disrupt, affecting banking and navigation systems.
Impact on the ISS: Astronauts on the International Space Station had to seek shelter from elevated radiation levels.
This solar activity poses a large risk to India's digital economy (UPI, 5G, satellite internet).
What is India Doing? – Preparedness and Solutions
The Aditya-L1 mission is stationed at the L1 point, approximately 1.5 million km away from the sun. It can detect CMEs 24-48 hours in advance, providing warnings that allow satellites to be placed in safe mode and grids to be balanced. The Hanle Observatory (Indian Astronomical Observatory) provides ground data that validates satellite data.
Power Grid Hardening: Geomagnetic current sensors are being installed for real-time monitoring.
Protecting Hanle Dark Sky Reserve: Tourism is increasing, but preventing light pollution is essential to maintain the function of optical sensors.
Appreciating Beauty While Acknowledging the Dangers
The stunning red skies over Hanle at the start of 2026 mark not just a visual marvel but a sign of increased solar activity. As solar cycles advance, such storms are expected to increase. India must bolster its space weather forecasting and protect its satellites and grids. Scientists emphasize that our electronic world is more fragile than we think. By safeguarding places like Hanle, we continue to observe space and shield ourselves from these threats.
