Northern Lights Dazzle in California Skies
Aurora Borealis Anticipated over North America
Rare Strong Aurora Expected Friday Night
By Jenny Gold, Staff Writer
May 11, 2024 12:10 PM PT
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The northern lights dazzled across California skies early Thursday morning, providing a spectacular show for stargazers. The rare display of the aurora borealis was visible from as far south as San Diego, and even in the San Francisco Bay Area. The lights are expected to be visible again on Friday night, and possibly even Saturday night.
The aurora borealis is a natural light display that occurs when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field. The lights are typically visible in the northern and southern polar regions, but can sometimes be seen at lower latitudes during periods of high solar activity.
The current aurora borealis display is being caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun. CMEs are large bursts of charged particles that can travel through space and interact with the Earth's magnetic field. The CME that is causing the current aurora borealis is one of the strongest in recent years, and it is expected to continue to produce strong aurora displays for the next few nights.
Stargazers who are hoping to see the aurora borealis should look to the northern horizon after dark. The lights will be most visible in dark, clear skies. If you are in an area with light pollution, you may want to drive to a darker location to get a better view.
Comments