A historic solar storm led to stunning displays of the northern lights across the Northern Hemisphere this weekend, captivating viewers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China. The rare occurrence was caused by an intense geomagnetic storm that reached Earth, resulting in vivid displays of the aurora borealis, which is triggered by molecular collisions in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The storm also led to significant solar activity not seen in decades, with more coronal mass ejections expected to fuel further sightings.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare G4 or G5 geomagnetic storm watch, anticipating the aurora to be visible as far south as Alabama and California. Prior to this, the celestial phenomena were mainly relegated to the poles or regions closer to them. The dazzling light shows, which arrived from Friday and extended into Saturday, marked a significant event in space weather activity.
The northern lights have been visible in various locations, including Idaho, Missouri, Michigan, Maine, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Canada, Great Britain, Poland, Russia, and China. Spectators marveled at the colorful skies as the solar storm lit up the atmosphere. With the potential for more aurora sightings in the coming days, people around the world eagerly anticipate the continuation of these extraordinary natural displays.
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