California Lights Up with Northern Lights
Aurora Borealis Wows Stargazers
By Jenny Gold, Staff Writer
May 11, 2024 12:10 PM PT
In a rare celestial event, California's night skies were illuminated by the mesmerizing Northern Lights late Friday night. This extraordinary display was visible even as far south as the Golden State.
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere. A strong solar storm heading towards Earth is responsible for this mesmerizing spectacle, which could also potentially disrupt communication systems and power grids.
Northern Californians were particularly fortunate to witness the ethereal glow of the aurora on Thursday due to a severe geomagnetic spatial storm. As the charged particles from the sun traveled along Earth's magnetic field lines, they collided with atoms in the atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of shimmering lights.
While the aurora is typically visible in high-latitude regions near the Earth's poles, the intensity of the solar storm made it possible to observe the Northern Lights in lower latitudes, including California. Stargazers and photographers across the state captured stunning images of the celestial performance.
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