northern lights

Latest about northern lights

Northern lights over snowy trees reflected in a lake

Auroras could light up the skies on Christmas, thanks to a powerful solar flare heading toward Earth

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A display of auroras is expected to light up the skies on Christmas Day, thanks to a powerful M8.9 solar flare enroute to Earth.

The Sun
An E-shaped green aurora (circled) in the sky above a forest at night

Extremely rare, black 'anti-auroras' paint luminous 'letter E' above Alaska

By Harry Baker published

A "bizarre" E-shaped aurora was recently photographed dancing in the sky above Alaska. The unusual light show was caused by rare black auroras, a.k.a. anti-auroras, which catapult charged particles from the sun back out of Earth's atmosphere and into space.

The Sun
A green aurora over a forest

Thanksgiving auroras? Solar storm likely to hit Earth on Thursday and Friday, NOAA warns

By Brandon Specktor last updated

An outburst of solar energy looks primed to hit Earth on Thursday, potentially bringing auroras to the northern U.S. on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

The Sun
A person stands on a dark beach under a vibrant display of green and blue northern lights, which streak across the sky in a dynamic, swirling pattern. A large, rugged rock formation rises nearby, adding to the dramatic scene.

Aurora activity is just getting started. Here's why the best northern lights are yet to come.

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Discover why the best aurora displays occur after solar maximum, and why 2026-2027 could be the year of the northern lights.

The Sun
Auroras behind a building on a hill

Auroras may paint the northern US tonight as Earth reels from 'strong' G3 geomagnetic storm

By Brandon Specktor published

Vibrant auroras could be visible as far south as Oregon and Pennsylvania tonight as Earth reels from a "strong" G3-class geomagnetic storm. However, the nearly full Harvest Moon may complicate viewing opportunities.

The Sun
Green and purple auroras over snowy mountains and a lake

A particularly active 'aurora season' could be just weeks away

By Jamie Carter published

September could be a prime time to see vibrant auroras, thanks to a quirk of Earth's tilt that leads to more intense geomagnetic activity around the equinox.

The Sun
a view of the night sky with an old castle ruin in the foreground. There is a pink hue on the left which is the northern lights and lots of streaks of light which are the perseid meteor and toward the center right of the image is a long red glow which is known as a SAR arc.

'Once-in-a-lifetime' photo: Perseid meteors, northern lights and rare glowing arc shine over 11th-century castle

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

An astonishing scene featuring Perseid meteors and colorful auroras played out overnight on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 above the U.K.'s 11th Century Corfe Castle.

Astronomy
the earth with a large aurora shining on it. in front is the international space station in shadow

New ISS images showcase auroras, moon and space station in glorious photos

By Elizabeth Howell published

The moon's glow meets a stunning aurora in a new astronaut image taken from space.

Astronomy
A wide-angle shot of a pink and green aurora with the silhouette of trees on the horizon

Auroras headed to the US again in aftermath of gargantuan 'X-class' solar flare

By Brandon Specktor published

Auroras may once again be visible in northern parts of the U.S. this weekend as Earth braces for impact from a powerful coronal mass ejection.

The Sun
A photo of shooting stars streaking across a sky with a pink aurora

'Severe' G4 geomagnetic storm strikes Earth, making widespread auroras likely

By Brandon Specktor published

Earth was hit by a "severe" G4-class geomagnetic storm on Monday morning, increasing the chances of auroras in the northern U.S. tonight.

The Sun
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