This week has brought excitement to sky enthusiasts all around the globe, as stunning displays of auroras lit up the night skies. Commonly referred to as the Northern Lights, this breathtaking phenomenon takes place when charged solar particles collide with Earth’s atmosphere. Traditionally, these lights can only be viewed in the Arctic regions, but due to heightened solar activity, they were visible much further south than usual, allowing many individuals to capture awe-inspiring photographs.
From Long Island, NY, the Aurora this evening.
Caused by charged solar particles arriving at Earth from yesterday’s solar flare. They slam into atmospheric molecules of Oxygen and Nitrogen, rendering them aglow. Here, Red and Green are visible, with the Big Dipper looking on. pic.twitter.com/wgzCIiJUHu
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 11, 2024
The spectacular auroras were also spotted throughout much of the United Kingdom, with both the UK Met Office and the Royal Astronomical Society sharing images:
The aurora has been visible across many parts of the UK this evening
Here are some photos taken by our meteorologists situated across the country pic.twitter.com/pTvGTuRqWK
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 10, 2024
Did you see the spectacular Northern Lights last night? Here are some beautiful #aurora images from across the UK…
And a reminder of why they have put on such a show and been seen much further south this year: https://t.co/a9RKHQMdmk #northernlights pic.twitter.com/xjXKXb7bWk
— Royal Astronomical Society (@RoyalAstroSoc) October 11, 2024
The auroras were also photographed from space earlier this week, as NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick posted a striking image taken from the International Space Station. For those intrigued, additional photographs from skywatchers worldwide can be found at space.com. Detecting auroras is easier than ever, as even basic smartphone cameras can capture these mesmerizing sights, enabling many to document their experiences without specialized equipment.
This week was marked by four significant solar flares erupting from the sun—powerful bursts of energy that can disrupt satellites and communication systems upon reaching Earth, a phenomenon termed space weather.
While these solar flares can pose challenges to technology in space, they simultaneously heighten the chances of witnessing auroras from the ground.
