Northern Lights Make A Southern Appearance Due To Rare Solar Storm! (5-10-2024) #25

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Northern Lights Make A Southern Appearance Due To Rare Solar Storm! (5-10-2024) #25
Northern Lights Make A Southern Appearance Due To Rare Solar Storm! (5-10-2024) #25

Viewing the northern lights overnight. Simply incredible indeed! The biggest geomagnetic storm in 2 decades, sparked by solar flares, caused the aurora borealis to appear in stretches of the northern hemisphere where they rarely reach. So amazing! From my perspective, the northern lights (or aurora borealis) were observed here from Hollister, CA. Yes, here in California! I was totally speechless! This was my very 1st time seeing this phenomenon in person! I could even see faint light pillars and a pinkish haze in the skies to the north with my naked eyes once adjusted to the dark….

A dramatic blast from the sun had set off the highest-level geomagnetic storm in earth’s atmosphere on Friday that was expected to make the northern lights visible as far south as Florida and Southern California and could interfere with power grids, communications, and navigations system. It is the strongest solar storm to reach us since 2003. The geomagnetic storm had reached earth around 4 p.m. Friday and was the first observed G5 event since 2003. The source of the storm “has mostly been a large, complex sunspot cluster that is 17 times the diameter of earth,” the NOAA said. The most intense solar storm in recorded history, in 1859, prompted auroras in Central America and possibly even Hawaii! NOAA issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning Friday. It said the sun was producing strong solar flares and has hurled at least 7 outbursts of plasma our way. The aurora became visible over much of the country and as far south as Alabama and California NOAA said, also issuing a G4-level watch in advance of the solar storm, predicting a big disturbance in the earth’s magnetic field. “Watches at this level are very rare,” said NOAA, which last issued one back in 2005. Certainly, this was an incredible experience that exceeded all expectations! I’m so glad to have left hours earlier than planned (peak viewing was 1-4 a.m. but ventured out around 10 pm). I wished I stayed longer since I went back home before 1 a.m. (Nikon was also low on battery). Many people apparently showed that the display had continued! I am longing to see more of these in the future. Isn’t space amazing?!

(Event witnessed Friday late evening, May 10, 2024 from the outskirts of Hollister, CA)

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Taken on: May 10, 2024
Sets appears in:   • Northern Lights Make A Southern Appearance Due To Rare Solar Storm! (5-10-2024)    • Beautiful Weather, Skyscapes, Clouds, Storms and Weather-Related Events Photos/Videos    more » • Evening Views/Night Sky Views, Our Moon and Astronomy Photos    « less
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Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, f/1.5, 2 sec, 5.7mm, ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Aperture: f/1.5
Exposure Time: 2
Focal Length: 5.7mm
ISO: 1600
Exposure Bias: +0.0625 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Program AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: Uncalibrated
Software: 16.5.1
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