Wexford Residents Urged to Contribute to Ireland’s Largest Archive of Northern Lights Photos

Residents across Wexford are being encouraged to contribute their photos of the Northern Lights to help create the largest-ever archive of aurora images in Ireland. The initiative, led by Dr. Alexandra Ruth Fogg, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), invites the public to share photos taken during the remarkable Northern Lights displays in May and October 2024, which were caused by intense geomagnetic storms. These stunning auroral displays were visible across Ireland, particularly in Wexford’s dark-sky areas and were widely documented by local residents using their smartphones and cameras. Now, DIAS researchers are asking people to submit their images as part of a citizen science project aimed at mapping the aurora’s location, brightness, colors and shapes. This data will provide valuable insights into space weather and contribute to Ireland's understanding of this natural hazard. Dr. Fogg explained that the photos collected will allow researchers to study the aurora's characteristics in unprecedented detail, helping to improve space weather preparedness in Ireland. By building a comprehensive dataset of aurora images, the project will enhance Ireland's ability to monitor and respond to space weather events. To participate, Wexford residents and others across Ireland can visit DIAS's website (https://www.dias.ie/cosmicphysics/astrophysics/aurora-eire/) and submit their Northern Lights photos. The more images collected, the better the scientific data will be, making this a unique opportunity for anyone who captured the stunning aurora displays. This citizen science project will play a key role in advancing Ireland’s research on space weather, contributing valuable information that can inform future studies and policies.