PHOTOS OF THE DAZZLING NORTHERN LIGHTS: G5 Geomagnetic Storm Lights Up Aurora Borealis Like Never Before


SOTN Editor’s Note: If ever all of humanity was in need of a sublime and pleasant distraction from the current state of world affairs, that time is right now.


10 photos of the Northern Lights dazzling in the night sky across the US and Europe caused by massive geomagnetic storm

Cameron Manley
BUSINESS INSIDER

You can see the Northern Lights in Alaska. CNaene/Getty Images
  • On Friday night, the Northern Lights put on a spectacular show for US and European star-gazers.
  • The lights, Aurora Borealis, were triggered by a huge geomagnetic storm headed toward Earth.
  • High-energy particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field cause geomagnetic storms.

Skies over the US and Europe were transformed into shades of interstellar pink, purple, blue, and green on Friday night as the Northern Lights produced a dazzling display.

Aurora Borealis lights were triggered after America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its first severe solar storm warning since 2005 as a huge geomagnetic storm headed toward Earth.

The NOAA said the G5 geomagnetic storm, which is considered extreme and the strongest level of a geomagnetic storm, brought with it the risk of affecting communications, GPS, and power grids.

Geomagnetic storms occur when high-energy particles from the sun reach Earth and interact with our magnetic field.

But the sun is 93 million miles away, so these particles have to get a major boost to reach us. That boost comes from solar storms.

Solar storms happen when the sun shoots powerful explosions of highly energized and magnetic plasma called coronal mass ejections toward Earth.

The lights were seen in the US as far south as El Paso, Texas, and across Europe in Germany, Spain, the UK, and Ukraine.

Here’s a look at 10 of the best pictures captured by stargazers.

California

TOPSHOT - Northern lights or aurora borealis illuminate the night sky along a highway north of San Francisco in Middletown, California on May 11, 2024. The most powerful solar storm in more than two decades struck Earth, triggering spectacular celestial light shows from Tasmania to Britain -- and threatening possible disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Northern Lights illuminate the night sky along a highway north of San Francisco in Middletown, California on May 11, 2024. JOSH EDELSON/Getty Images

Texas

El Paso, TX
Northern Lights seen in El Paso, TX National Weather Service El Paso, TX

Illinois

Lincoln, IL
Northern Lights seen north of Bloomington near Hudson, IL National Weather Service Lincoln, IL

Los Angeles

Shreveport
Northern Lights seen in Shreveport, LA National Weather Service in Shreveport, LA

New York

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - MAY 11: Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), also known as aurora, colorful lights shift, illuminate the sky in Rochester, New York, United States on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Northern Lights seen in Rochester, New York Anadolu/Getty Images

Canada

Aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, is seen on May 11, 2024 in Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada.
Northern Lights seen in Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada. Andrew Chin/Getty Images

Germany

11 May 2024, Bavaria, Krün: Northern lights (aurora borealis) flicker in the night sky above Wagenbrüchsee near Krün (Bavaria) on May 11, 2024. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Northern lights flicker in the night sky above Wagenbrüchsee near Krün, Germany. picture alliance/Getty Images

United Kingdom

orthern lights, above Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.
Northern lights seen in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Jane Barlow – PA Images/Getty Images

Spain

CERCS, BARCELONA CATALONIA, SPAIN - MAY 11: Aurora borealis from the Baells reservoir, May 10, 2024, in Cercs, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Catalonia recorded aurora borealis last night, May 10, to today. An aurora borealis is produced by a very powerful solar storm, which collides with the Earth's magnetic field. To the north of the Earth these phenomena can be seen more easily, but on this occasion they have been seen in several points of Spain, Europe and even Africa, where it is very rare to be recorded. (Photo By Lorena Sopena/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Northern Lights seen in Catalonia, Spain. Europa Press News/Getty Images

Ukraine

The moon is being illuminated by light reflected from the Earth and is surrounded by the northern lights, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 10, 2024. (Photo by Pavlo Pakhomenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Northern lights seen in Kharkiv, Ukraine. NurPhoto/Getty Images

___
https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-northern-lights-dazzle-night-sky-across-the-us-europe-2024-5


Glimpses Of Northern Lights After Strongest Solar Storm In 2 Decades

The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, were seen in most parts of Europe.

World NewsEdited by NDTV News Des

The northern lights made a stunning appearance across the world on Friday after the most powerful solar storm in more than two decades struck Earth.

The colourful display, also known as the aurora borealis, was seen in most parts of Europe.

The northern lights also illuminated the night sky over some parts of the US, Canada, and Australia.

People stop along a country road near London, Ontario to watch the Northern lights
Photo Credit: AFP

Northern lights during a solar storm over the National Monument of Scotland in Edinburgh
Photo Credit: AFP

These spectacular celestial light shows were attributed to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm that struck Earth on Friday.

Northern lights seen over Ohio during a geomagnetic storm
Photo Credit: AFP

Authorities had also notified satellite operators, airlines and the power grid to take precautionary steps for potential disruptions caused by changes to Earth’s magnetic field.

A user posted a picture of herself and her cat watching the beautiful view.

“I can’t believe I now have a pic of me and my cat admiring the northern lights in my own garden???” she wrote.

A user from Tuscany, Italy, called it an “unbelievable moment.”

Another user, from the North West of France, posted a thread of images and said that this was the “most insane” thing she had ever seen in her life.

According to another post, the Northern Lights were visible across Russia, particularly in the Moscow region, as well as in Saratov and Voronezh, and extending into southern Siberia.

“Colour me stunned,” read a caption of someone who posted a video clip of the phenomenon.

Another observer said it was “rare to see pink in the northern lights” and claimed that those who saw this beautiful view were “very, very lucky.”

Someone else posted a couple pictures, writing, “I’m actually in tears I thought I’d never get to see the northern lights.”

A user from North Georgia joined in, sharing stunning pictures of the aurora borealis.

Post a commentThe northern lights are usually visible in regions located closer to the Earth’s magnetic poles like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Alaska.

___
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/northern-lights-aurora-borealis-cover-europe-us-australia-after-strongest-solar-storm-in-2-decades-5638170


See photos: Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday

JJ Hensley
USA TODAY

Because the sun is at the height of its 11-year-cycle, conditions were optimal for the auroras to put on a light show that electrified sky watchers, and appeared to far more Americans than usual.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would see it from my front yard in Key Largo (Florida,) said Mike Theiss, a veteran extreme nature photographer and storm chaser. He’d been seeing the news about the solar storms all day Friday and was “a bit jealous” he would miss out on the auroras. But then he started seeing photos posted in real time on social media, in South Carolina, then Georgia and then the Bahamas.

Incredulous about that sighting, he figured he’d take a chance. “I walked out the front door and there were the lights. I could see a faint red glow with the naked eye,” Theiss told USA TODAY. “I was looking at the northern lights. I still can’t believe it.”

Here’s a look at some of the images captured around the U.S. and in Europe.

Northern lights:When could you see the northern lights? Aurora forecast for over a dozen states this weekend

The Aurora borealis dances in the Tallahassee sky late Friday night, May 10, 2024. For best viewing shoot it on night mode with at least a three second exposure.

The Aurora borealis dances in the Tallahassee sky late Friday night, May 10, 2024. For best viewing shoot it on night mode with at least a three second exposure.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, as seen in Oakland Township on Friday, May 10, 2024.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, as seen in Whitmore Lake, Michigan on May 10, 2024.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, as seen from Ypsilanti, Michigan on May 10, 2024.

Geomagnetic Storm:Solar storm is powerful enough to disrupt communications: Why NOAA says not to worry

‘Just in awe’

Aurora borealis in Florida

Aurora borealis in Europe

WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

An aurora borealis is seen over the island of Gran Canaria from Pico de las Nieves, Spain, May 11, 2024. REUTERS/Borja Suarez

An aurora borealis is seen above Lausanne and the Jura from the Tour de Gourze in Riex, Switzerland, May 11, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, are visible over St Mary’s lighthouse near Whitley Bay on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

An aurora borealis is seen above Urom and Pilisborosjeno, from Harmashatar Hill in Budapest, Hungary, May 11, 2024. REUTERS/Marton Monus

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY.

___
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/05/11/aurora-borealis-photos-northern-lights-seen-us-europe/73652013007/

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.