The Colors in the Sky

Northern Lights Light Up Skies Across the United States

Photo from Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Earlier this week, the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, illuminated skies throughout the United States. The event even reached Florida, a rare sight for residents here. For many, witnessing the lights and capturing pictures is an exciting and special experience.

The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s magnetic field, causing waves of green, red and purple to fill the sky. Typically, the aurora is visible only in northern states, but this strong storm has allowed it to be seen further south than normal. 

Scientists say this event was the result of major solar activity that produced a solar storm. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center labeled it a G4 geomagnetic storm, a strong event caused by coronal mass ejections, massive bursts of magnetized plasma from the sun, that struck Earth’s magnetosphere. The storm also included a solar flare that might be “among the top 39 solar flares recorded in the space age.” These major outbursts have led to the auroras being visible in at least 12 states.

For those who hope to take advantage of this rare chance to see the Northern Lights without traveling, it is recommended to look at the sky on a clear night in dark, open areas away from city lights. Taking photos is also encouraged in the case that the lights aren’t easily visible to the naked eye.