Ajit Karn
A massive coronal hole created a powerful geomagnetic disturbance that severely damaged the Earth’s magnetic field. This event sparked the magnificent Northern Lights display that traveled to the United States and was witnessed by millions of people.
Numerous states in the United States reported seeing the swirling green splendor of the aurora borealis.
Photos and videos of the aurora borealis began to saturate the social media feeds of millions of users. Several accounts independently shared the visual images.
Last night was nothing short of spectacular! The aurora borealis put on an unforgettable show. Below are three shots from Hallow Rock on the north shore of Minnesota. I have never seen this red of an aurora before, so many colors accompanying the normal green. #mnwx #aurora pic.twitter.com/oUXdXg9eVG
— Jake Heitman (@HeitmanJake) March 24, 2023
HUGE aurora pop right through the big dipper up phere in Fairbanks, AK! This was insanely bright and colorful to the eye. Around 30 seconds in, the aurora goes from great to mind-blowingly spectacular. pic.twitter.com/eU036JKJAo
— Vincent Ledvina (@Vincent_Ledvina) March 25, 2023
Witnessed literally the most insane aurora of my life tonight in Fairbanks. This was unreal. pic.twitter.com/D3b6YNqX31
— Vincent Ledvina (@Vincent_Ledvina) March 24, 2023
What Is an Aurora, and Why Does It Occur?
According to NASA, if you ever find yourself close to the North or South Pole, you may be in for a special delight. Frequently, the sky features stunning light displays. The name for these lights is auroras. If you’re near the North Pole, it’s dubbed the northern lights or aurora borealis. If you are close to the South Pole, you will see aurora australis, also known as the southern lights.
The Sun is the actual origin of auroras. The Sun sends us an abundance of other forms of energy and minuscule particles in addition to heat and light. The protective magnetic field surrounding the Earth shields us from the vast majority of energy and particles, which we are oblivious to.
However, the sun does not always emit the same quantity of energy. Solar wind flows continuously, and there are also solar cyclones. During a type of solar storm known as a coronal mass ejection, the sun exhales an enormous sphere of electrified gas that can travel at high velocities through space.
Also read: “Direct Hit”: Shock, Grief In US After Tornados Strike Mississippi
When a solar storm approaches, a portion of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the poles and into the Earth’s atmosphere. There, particles interact with substances in our atmosphere, resulting in stunning light displays. Oxygen emits both red and green light. Nitrogen emits a blue-purple light.
