Sky Lit Up By Aurora Borealis Thursday; More On Tap For Friday

(KNSI) – Lady Aurora dances across the night sky.

The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, put on a spectacular show Thursday night across much of the United States. A severe geomagnetic storm helped fuel the green, purple, and red hues that were on display in central Minnesota.

Charged particles are expelled from the sun, carried across space via solar winds, and interact with gasses in the Earth’s outer atmosphere. The reaction occurs anywhere from 60 to 80 miles above the ground. That means they require the right conditions to be powerful enough to see, along with clear skies.

The period near the spring and fall equinoxes is when viewing the Northern Lights tends to be best. Thursday’s storm was ranked G4 on a five-part scale, which can cause problems for electronic devices. Friday should see another display, although not as potent as the night before.

A picture taken by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office near Two Rivers County Park is below.

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