The United States was recently treated to a breathtaking and remarkably widespread display of the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, triggered by an intense solar storm. The strong geomagnetic storm pushed the dazzling curtains of light far south of their typical range, allowing residents in numerous states to witness the celestial phenomenon, often for the very first time.
The mesmerising, colourful views were captured and enthusiastically shared across social media, with many expressing surprise at seeing the lights in unexpected locations. One individual captured the intense green aurora, exclaiming, “Witnessed Northern Lights for the first time.” Another viewer in Florida noted the extreme rarity, commenting, “The palm tree is a reminder that I’m in Florida… and this is NOT normal.” Sightings were also reported as far south as Northern Mississippi, where one observer confirmed, “Northern lights in Northern Mississippi. You can see them with the naked eye.”
The Science Behind the Spectacle
The source of this spectacular light show was an episode of powerful solar activity.
- Cause: Auroras are generated when highly energized particles ejected from the Sun interact with the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
- Mechanism: These electrically charged particles collide with gas atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, exciting them and causing them to emit light, which we see as the aurora.
- The Storm: This particular event was driven by multiple Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), with one particularly strong burst from an X5.1-class solar flare—the most powerful of 2025—which caused the resulting geomagnetic storm to reach G4 (‘Severe’) levels. This severe intensity is what expanded the auroral oval, making the lights visible at such unusually low latitudes.
Why Auroras Display Different Colors
The variety of colours seen in the aurora is determined by the specific gases the solar particles collide with and the altitude at which these collisions occur:
- Green: The most common colour, typically produced by oxygen atoms at lower altitudes (around 60 miles up).
- Red: A less frequent, but dazzling colour, which forms from the interaction with oxygen atoms at much higher altitudes (up to 200 miles above Earth). Red displays are often associated with intense solar activity.
- Blue and Purple: These hues are produced by energized nitrogen molecules and atoms, and they are comparatively less common.
- Yellow and Pink: These are the rarest shades, formed by a mixture of the more dominant red, green, or blue light.
The November 11–12 storm was so powerful that it created vivid displays across an unprecedented number of states, offering a truly once-in-a-solar-cycle viewing opportunity.