The aurora offered a spectacular celestial show Friday evening. Bright pink, swirling greens, and pops of purple lit up the night sky across much of the globe. Earlier today, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center noted that “Extreme geomagnetic conditions (G5) were observed.” G5 is the most intense level for a geomagnetic storm (on a scale of G1 to G5) and has not been seen since October 2003.
(Related: We finally know what triggers the Northern Lights)
Geomagnetic storms and solar flares can cause widespread disruptions to radio communications, power grids and navigation signals. This also means that the auroras are particularly stunning.
Observers from Slovenia to Pennsylvania, New Zealand to Canada shared dazzling photos of vivid colors stretching across the sky. NOAA expects conditions to be continue until Sundayso if you missed Friday’s show, there may still be time to catch it this weekend.
The Northern Lights, also known as the Northern Lights, shine on the horizon over the waters of Lake Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch on May 11, 2024. Photo: Sanka Vidanagama / AFP, SANKA VIDANAGAMA/AFP via Getty Images
Light green and reddish-purple auroras shine in the night sky in the Oder-Spree district of eastern Brandenburg, Germany. Photo: Patrick Pleul/photo alliance via Getty Images
The Northern Lights, also known as the Northern Lights, shine on the horizon above the waters of Lake Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch. Photo: SANKA VIDANAGAMA/AFP via Getty Images
The National Weather Service in Seattle wrote: “The aurora is still strong after 2 a.m. local time. I was working during the geomagnetic storm of October 2003 and it was, hands down, the best I have seen in my 25 years in this office. Photo: NWS Seattle, X
The National Weather Service in Shreveport wrote: “The clouds cleared at the office just in time. What an incredible pleasure for us here during the midnight shift. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see the Northern Lights here in Shreveport. Incredibly grateful for the dry air aloft. » Photo: NWS Shreveport,
