The sun has been very active lately, sending out flares and solar material towards Earth, resulting in some of the brightest and widest-reaching auroras in years. Thursday night saw a particularly wild show, with the northern lights visible deep into the US. People across the country have been capturing stunning images of the auroras, including from the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Don Pettit shared a breathtaking view of the aurora from space, describing it as “stunning” and “blood red.” The sun is expected to remain geomagnetically active, giving skywatchers more opportunities to witness this natural phenomenon.
Aurora watchers in various states have been treated to colorful displays in the night sky. From Virginia to Kansas, South Carolina to New Mexico, and even New York and Pennsylvania, people have been capturing the beauty of the northern lights. Using a variety of smartphones and cameras, individuals have been able to document the shifting colors of the auroras, from purple and green to red and pink. The stunning images captured from different locations across the country serve as a reminder of the natural beauty that can be found in the night sky.
In Virginia, CNET’s James Bricknell used a Google Pixel Fold to capture a glowing purple aurora, while in Kansas, Chris Wedel captured the shifting red and green colors using a Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Kari Wedel used a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 to photograph the aurora with trees in the foreground. In South Carolina, Erica Devaney captured the rosy glow of the northern lights with an iPhone 15 Pro. In New Mexico, Virginia Thompson captured a blush-like aurora with a Moto G Power phone. The variety of devices used to capture these images shows that anyone with a smartphone can experience and document the beauty of the aurora.
The auroras have also been seen in states like New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Oregon, and Alaska. In New York, Richard Peterson and Jeffrey Hazelwood captured stunning images of the aurora reflecting in water and above a house in the Catskill Mountains. In Pennsylvania, Dean Myers spotted an ethereal purple-red glow at Haverford College. In Missouri, Ciearra Jackson and Angie Olive used their iPhones to capture the dancing lights of the aurora above the tree line. In Oregon, Sarah Marcus used a Samsung Galaxy S10 to capture the aurora from a field in Dundee. And in Alaska, Hasan Akbas captured a fabulous show of the northern lights in the sky. These images showcase the diverse and mesmerizing displays of the auroras seen across different states.
Overall, the recent surge in solar activity has provided aurora watchers with incredible opportunities to witness and capture the beauty of the northern lights. Whether from the ground or from space, people across the country have been treated to colorful displays of auroras stretching across the night sky. With the sun expected to remain active, skywatchers can look forward to more opportunities to witness this natural phenomenon. As technology continues to advance, capturing the beauty of the aurora has become more accessible to anyone with a smartphone, allowing for a deeper appreciation of the wonders of the universe.
