Red auroras illuminate the sky in Genhe city, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, December 1, 2023. (Video provided to People's Daily)
Have you ever imagined watching the aurora borealis lighting up the entire night sky? Even from your doorstep? Some residents in North China were lucky enough to enjoy this wonderful view without traveling far.
On the night of December 1, 2023, the northern lights illuminated several high-latitude areas across China, including the capital Beijing. Given China's relatively low geomagnetic latitude, observing the aurora borealis, a natural phenomenon predominantly visible in lower polar regions, proves challenging even during strong geomagnetic activity.
However, this extraordinary occurrence was captured and shared online by 24-year-old Li Shengyu, an amateur astrophotographer from Zhejiang Province, whose youthful heart harbored a dream of starry passion since childhood.
His aurora-hunting journey was covered by China Central Television (CCTV), the national broadcaster, and other mainstream media outlets in the country, drawing the attention of hundreds of thousands of netizens.
Solar halo photographed by Li in Genhe city, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, December 2023 (Photo provided to People's Daily)
When talking about his aurora-hunting trip, Li still showed excitement. Upon learning of the rare aurora sighting forecast in North China, he immediately headed to Genhe city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Around 18:36 on December 1, 2023, the aurora slowly emerged from the horizon. Then, red auroras and columnar auroras could be observed with the naked eye. As time passed, Li noticed that the aurora was becoming increasingly intense.
"At first, I couldn't see the aurora with my eyes. But gradually, it became visible. Then the red aurora appeared, and below it, I could see a green one." Li recalled.
An iridescent pileus cloud creates beautiful colors in the sky in Zhejiang Province in July 2022. An iridescent pileus cloud is a group of water droplets that have a uniformly similar size and so together diffract different colors of sunlight. (Photo provided to People's Daily)
Despite the chilling cold of minus 30 degrees Celsius, he persisted for over five hours, using multiple cameras for various shots. For Li, capturing such a spectacular and rare sight in China was absolutely worthwhile.
The journey into astrophotography for Li was not a mere happenstance but a passion cultivated through years of stargazing and fascination with the cosmos. "When I witnessed these astonishing cosmic scenes, images that were once confined to scientific magazines, I felt profoundly moved. Then I asked myself, why not give it a try on my own?" Li said excitedly.
His venture into astrophotography began as a self-taught and peer-assisted endeavor, fueled by a thirst for knowledge and an insatiable curiosity about the cosmos. Along his journey, he faced disappointment as scenes vanished on his way to the perfect spot.
"Red Sprites" appear over Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, in April 2021. The red sprite, academically known as a "transient luminous event," is an electrical discharge in the middle and upper atmosphere, reaching 50 to 90 kilometers in altitude. (Photo provided to People's Daily)
He endured extreme minus 40 degrees Celsius cold for five evenings to capture elusive auroras. "My noodles froze into a lump as soon as I poured out the hot water. None of the equipment worked well." Li said.
Yet, he also reveled in the excitement of capturing a "red sprite", a rare lightning phenomenon that lasts only microseconds. He also indulged in happiness when he shared his wonderful works and let more people know about the hidden knowledge in his pictures. Amid all these challenges, his love and passion for celestial beauty allowed him to navigate the ups and downs of his journey.
The Milky Way stretches across the sky above Lugu Lake, Yunnan Province, in November 2022. (Photo provided to People's Daily)
As Li continues to pursue his passion for astrophotography, his journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of one individual's love for the cosmos. Through his lens, he not only captures celestial wonders but also invites us all to join him in exploring the boundless beauty beyond our earthly horizons. "In today's fast-paced life, I hope more people are willing to wait a moment, look up at the sky, and maybe they can catch a different view." Li said.