Didn't Catch the Northern Lights This Week? Here's What You Missed
The aurora borealis was visible from most of the US last night.
Don't tell me I didn't warn you (because I absolutely did), but last night, the northern lights gave most of the US quite the celestial show.
That's right. Due to a "severe geomagnetic storm" forecasted by the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, the aurora was visible further south than usual, making it possible for many Americans to witness the phenomenon from their own backyards.
But before we get into it, let's explain the jargon behind it. How are the northern lights and geomagnetic storms related? Simply put, the northern lights are an effect of such storms.
Solar winds are born when the sun emits large quantities of energy through coronal mass ejections or solar flares, to name a few phenomena. The shockwave created by those winds can interact with the Earth's magnetic field, which is what we call a geomagnetic storm, and the aurora borealis is a pleasant aftermath of that storm.
A dedicated and official NOAA scale explains that the stronger the storm, the higher our odds of witnessing the aurora further south than usual. That's what happened last night: A severe (G4) geomagnetic storm made it possible for lower latitudes to see the colorful celestial event, and unusual locations such as New York City and cities in northern Italy reported seeing it.
If you missed out because you were busy doing something else, there is no need to worry. Many amateur and professional photographers out there took it upon themselves to document last night's gorgeous aurora and then proceeded to share their best photos on social media. Check out our favorite ones below, and let them inspire you ahead of the next big geomagnetic storm.
Ready to go stargazing?
Here are all the best stargazing events that you can get out and see this month or you could stay in and stream the northern lights from home. If you're just getting started, check out our guide to astronomy for beginners or easy stargazing road trips from big US cities.