Aurora in Oman: Observations and images

The Sun showed extraordinary activity related to sunspot area 3664 on May 8–10, 2024, resulting in solar flares considered the most intense in the current solar cycle. Auroras occurred in several regions around the world. Early on May 12, 2024 near the highest peak in the Sultanate of Oman, a team of Omani astrophotography enthusiasts documented the rare event ever observed in this region. Auroras often occur along the so-called auroral oval zones around the geomagnetic poles, where Earth's magnetic field directs charged particles penetrating from the solar wind. This takes place when a cloud of charged particles is thrown toward Earth by a large explosion on the Sun. Sometimes, these particles can make the aurora visible in places where it is exceedingly rare throughout recorded history. The observation from the mountain Jebel Shams, situated far from the polar regions (23 degrees north of the equator), offers a unique chance to study such an event in a region where auroras are exceptionally rare. We explore the factors contributing to the observed aurora in Oman, including geomagnetic conditions and the role of sunspot region AR3664 in solar activity along with local conditions in Oman that contributed to the visibility of this aurora. Understanding this dynamics can enhance our knowledge of the mechanisms driving auroral visibility at lower latitudes and provide valuable insights into the global impact of solar storms. This study also emphasizes how crucial it is to record auroras in regions like the Arabian Peninsula, where they are rarely documented.