Aurora borealis, also known as Northern lights, put on a beautiful display across parts of the United States last Sunday night. The phenomenon occurs when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a beautiful display of colorful lights. (USA Today)
The Northern lights were visible in 30 states, including states like Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and New York. In some of these states, the dazzling display could be seen by all residents, while in others, the lights were only visible in some counties. (NBC Chicago)
While the Northern lights are common in places like Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, they are a rare sight in the United States. However, a large burst of energy from the sun, caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME), was responsible for the illuminating display that stretched across North America and Europe. (The New York Times)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had issued a severe geomagnetic storm warning, predicting that the Northern lights would be visible in parts of the United States, including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, due to a CME that was expected to hit Earth. The Northern lights were visible in these areas on Sunday night, along with the peak of the Lyrids meteor shower.(ABC7 New York)
Forecasters hoped that the Northern lights would be visible in even more parts of the United States last Friday night, but unfortunately, the aurora borealis did not put on another show. (USA Today)
Despite the disappointment from last Friday night, the Northern lights remain a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many in the United States. As long as the sun continues to emit CMEs and electrically charged particles that collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, Americans may get to see this breathtaking phenomenon again. (BBC)
