Residents across the Midwest, including those in Ohio, were treated to a stunning spectacle on Friday night as the aurora borealis graced the evening sky.
The vibrant display was made possible by a rare solar storm on Friday, placing the majority of Ohio within prime viewing territory for the Northern Lights. Scientists from the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipate that this phenomenon will persist through at least Sunday.
The extreme geomagnetic storm continues and will persist through at least Sunday… pic.twitter.com/GMDKikl7mA
— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 11, 2024
Weather permitting, Ohioans may have another opportunity to witness the aurora borealis on Saturday night, as the extreme solar storm is forecasted to continue into Sunday. According to the U.S. SWPC, the best viewing times are just after sunset or right before sunrise.
Many individuals are curious about the science behind these ethereal lights. According to NASA, the Northern Lights are caused by collisions between “fast-moving” electrons from space and oxygen and nitrogen gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. When these collisions occur, they release photons, resulting in the breathtaking light show visible to observers on the ground.
The colors of the aurora borealis vary depending on the gases involved in the process. Oxygen tends to produce a greenish-yellow or red light, while nitrogen typically emits a blue hue, as explained by NASA.
