Source of the Northern Lights

Amateur astronomer photographed sunspots with his cell phone

Robert Grögler photographed the auroras over Lindabrunn as well as the eruptions on the surface of the sun.(Bild: Robert Grögler Krone KREATIV,)

As the name suggests, auroras are normally reserved for more northerly regions. However, unusually strong sunspots also created this colorful natural spectacle over the skies of Lower Austria. However, photos of the "Aurora Borealis" were not enough for an amateur astronomer from the district of Baden.

The northern lights created unexpected light shows in the sky at the weekend. While countless Krone readers captured the colorful natural spectacle on camera, amateur astronomer Robert Grögler from Lindabrunn in the district of Baden went in search of the source.

Photo coup without a special camera
Because the "Aurora Borealis" is known to be triggered by sunspots, he found what he was looking for on the surface of our star. Using a telescope, he took aim at the current eruption AR3664 - and snapped a souvenir picture. Not with special equipment, however, but simply with his cell phone!

 "The inconspicuous spot on the surface of the sun measures around 200,000 kilometers, more than 15 times the size of our Earth," says the "stargazer" with an eye for the big picture.