Star magic over Munich: Northern lights enchant the night sky

Star magic over Munich: Northern lights enchant the night sky

On Monday evening, January 19, 2026, the residents of Munich experienced a rare sight: Northern lights danced in the sky and enchanted the nighttime backdrop. These spectacular light displays were the result of a violent geomagnetic solar storm triggered by a powerful solar flare. The German Weather Service (DWD) reported that particles streamed from the sun to Earth and were directed by the Earth's magnetic field to the poles, where they eventually entered the Earth's atmosphere and caused air molecules to glow. The lights were particularly visible between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. in a north-northwest direction.

And luck favored the people of Munich. The sky was mostly cloudless at night and the new moon offered the best conditions for this natural spectacle. Numerous photos from various districts such as Sendling, Laim, Neuperlach and Trudering were shared on social media, capturing the green-red glow. The spectacle was not just limited to Munich; The northern lights could be seen nationwide from Brandenburg to the Alps, as [ZDF] also confirmed.

A strong solar storm

The phenomenon that made this sight possible was a geomagnetic storm of level G4, the second highest level, according to the US Atmospheric Administration NOAA. This storm was particularly strong, so the visibility of the Northern Lights reached as far south as Germany, including places like Straubing in Bavaria. Markus Bayer, a meteorologist at the DWD, explained that the sun's flare cloud only needed 25 hours to reach Earth - a remarkable time frame, as such processes usually take three to four days.

In many regions, the clear sky was a predicate not only for the visibility of the lights, but also for the remarkable reds and greens that are due to a reaction of the sun's particles with air molecules. Depending on the type of molecules encountered in Earth's atmosphere, the colors may vary. However, the most common are green and red, which are produced by oxygen and nitrogen, as [Tagesschau] explains.

Potential impact on technology

The force of the solar storm not only brought joy for the amateur astronomers among Munich's residents, but also some technical concerns. Possible impacts on satellites and GPS systems have been mentioned in the wake of this rare natural phenomenon. This is another aspect that increases the fascination surrounding what is happening, because while people stood on the streets and admired the northern lights, technology in the background did not remain unaffected.

Overall, January 19, 2026 was an evening that many Munich residents will remember for a long time. An impressive spectacle that once again demonstrates the power and beauty of nature.