17th-Century Korean Sky Mysteries Solved as Ancient Auroras

Unusual lights were recorded over Korea’s night sky in the early 17th century. Historical accounts from January 1624 and March 1626 describe strange glowing phenomena. Researchers now believe these were early sightings of auroras caused by intense solar activity. Four hundred years ago, court astronomers observed the sky from the ground. Today, scientists use advanced instruments in orbit to study similar events. Moon Hong-kyu, a principal researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, leads modern efforts to understand these phenomena.

In a recent development, Korea’s Nuri rocket launched the Next-Generation Medium-Sized Satellite No. 3. The satellite carries ROKITS, a specialised camera designed to monitor auroras. This instrument captures green, red, and full visible-band wavelengths to analyse how auroras form and evolve.

Auroras happen when high-energy particles from the sun strike Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions energise oxygen and nitrogen atoms, producing vivid coloured lights in the sky. The unusual lights seen in 1624 and 1626 were likely auroras linked to heightened solar activity. Modern technology like ROKITS now allows scientists to study these events in far greater detail. This helps improve understanding of space weather and its effects on Earth.