The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, were visible in the CSRA due to a powerful geomagnetic storm caused by a solar flare. This phenomenon is typically seen closer to the North Pole, but the recent G5 geomagnetic storm allowed those in lower latitudes, such as the CSRA, to witness it as well.
Formed when charged particles from a solar flare or coronal mass ejection collide with oxygen and nitrogen gases in Earth’s atmosphere, auroras release energy in the form of light. The colors are determined by the excited gases and their altitude. For example, the pink color witnessed in the CSRA Friday night was produced by nitrogen gas.
These storms are caused by disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field due to energy from the sun and can be rated on a scale from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), with the recent storm being classified as a G5, one of the strongest since October 2003. With another opportunity to view these lights on Sunday night, now is an excellent time for people to learn more about them.
