Red Lights in an Ancient Sky: Medieval Solar Storms Revealed by Trees and a Poet’s Diary
TL;DR
Space scientists link a medieval solar proton event (roughly 1200–1204 CE) to red auroras seen at mid-latitudes, using carbon-14 in buried Japanese asunaro trees and the Meigetsuki diary to date the phenomenon; dendroclimatology shows the sun’s cycle was unusually short (7–8 years) during that period, indicating a powerful yet sub-extreme space-weather episode, reported in 2026.
- An ancient solar storm left clues in tree rings and a famous poet's diary: 'Red lights in the northern sky' Space
- A red sky frightened medieval Japan, and buried trees now reveal the solar storm behind it Earth.com
- Ancient Trees Reveal A Massive Solar Storm That Turned Skies Blood Red 800 Years Ago Indian Defence Review
- Deadly “red sky” solar storm from 800 years ago discovered in ancient trees ScienceDaily
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