The Northern Lights played over large parts of the country during Friday evening and night.
From Stockholm, Södermanland, Jönköping, Halmstad and Skåne, among others, came witness reports on the celestial phenomenon.
Kjell Olauson, chairman of the association Örebro Astronomi, states that it is unusual with the northern lights so far south.
According to him, yesterday's strong glow also has a rare explanation.
- The space weather is studied very carefully.
There have been several reports that there was a tear in the earth's magnetic field and that it strengthened the northern lights, says Olauson.
Unusual phenomenon
The Northern Lights are formed by particle radiation from the sun which, when in contact with the Earth's atmosphere, initiates electromagnetic radiation (light).
A magnetic storm is usually the reason if the phenomenon is visible further south, but this time the explanation seems to be more unusual.
A tear is believed to have formed in the earth's magnetic field and the solar wind that flowed through the gap gave rise to the light dance that could be seen over Scandinavia and northern Europe, Oluason concludes.
- It is not common for this type of tear to occur, he says.
New chances tonight
The cracks are open for a few hours, and then disappear.
- Our magnetic field is not perfect.
It has defects that sometimes cause this type of tear.
However, we do not know exactly why they occur.
According to available forecasts for the Northern Lights, it looks like there will be new chances on Sunday night.
- There are good hopes for the northern lights in the wee hours again.
If this time too it is visible further south, it is probably because the light is so strong in itself, because tears are unusual, says Olauson.