On Saturday 10 October, a G3 aurora bathed the Dolomites in a striking red glow, visible from Passo Sella near San Giovanni di Fassa.
Local photographer Manuel Bernard captured the phenomenon, framing the aurora alongside the Milky Way’s Big Dipper, the Sassolungo summit, and a cross on the Mesules trail.
The display was triggered by a solar flare that released a coronal mass ejection, which struck Earth’s magnetic field at 15:16 UTC and sparked a geomagnetic storm of G3 class.
Observatories at mid‑latitudes and webcams along the Italy‑Switzerland border confirmed visibility; if the storm intensified, the aurora could spread further south into Italy.
The red hue, less common than the usual green, results from high‑altitude oxygen interactions, while nitrogen and other species produce violet or blue at lower levels.
Bernard used a smartphone app to receive real‑time alerts on solar activity, allowing him to move quickly to an optimal viewing spot with good access and open sky.
The event shows that even moderate‑latitude locations can witness dramatic auroral displays, offering a rare visual spectacle for hikers and astronomy enthusiasts alike.
