{"id":782234,"date":"2024-05-13T10:00:50","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T15:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=782234"},"modified":"2024-05-13T10:00:50","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T15:00:50","slug":"what-a-weekend-spectacular-aurora-photos-from-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=782234","title":{"rendered":"What a Weekend! Spectacular Aurora Photos from Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\u201cA dream come true.\u201d
\u201cI never expected this!\u201d
\u201cThe most amazing light show I\u2019ve ever seen in my life!\u201d
\u201cOnce in a lifetime!\u201d
\u201cNo doubt, this weekend will be remembered as \u2018that weekend.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how people described their views of the Aurora borealis this weekend, which put on a breathtaking celestial show around the world, and at lower latitudes than usual. This allowed hundreds of millions of people to see the northern lights for the first time in their lives. People as far south as Arizona and Florida in the US and France, Germany and Poland in Europe got the views of their life as a series of intense solar storms \u2013 the most powerful in more than 20 years \u2013 impacted Earth\u2019s atmosphere starting Friday and through the weekend.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As we reported on Friday, a giant Earth-facing sunspot group named AR3664 hurled at least six coronal mass ejections our way, triggering a dazzling display of breathtaking celestial shows over several nights. NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a geomagnetic storm watch in anticipation of G4 or G5 events; G5 is the highest rating on NOAA\u2019s space weather scale. This means not only was there a spectacular sky show, but some electrical grid systems could have experienced blackouts; however, there was no widespread reports of any problems or damage to electrical grids.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatches at this level are very rare,\u201d the SWPC said in an advisory on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the incredible views of our readers and friends, many shared on Universe Today\u2019s Flickr page. Our lead image comes from Julien Looten, who took this photo at the cliffs of \u00c9tretat in northern France. Looten said, \u201cThese auroras began to be visible around 10:30 PM, even before nightfall\u2026 From then on, they were visible to the naked eye until dawn\u2026 Without interruption\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n

A spectacular light show over North Cascades National Park, Washington state, USA. Credit: Patrick Vallely. Used by permission. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A 360\u00b0 panorama of the May 10\/11, 2024 great aurora display, as seen in southern Alberta, Canada. This is a stitch of 20 segments, each 13-second exposures, with \u201cvery odd vertical blue and magenta rays.\u201d Credit: Alan Dyer\/AmazingSky.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A unique orange and red aurora seen over Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Karla Thompson. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n

No doubt this weekend will be remembered as ‘that weekend’. Here’s my rushed, ordinary photos of an extraordinary event.
Taken locally in Cheshire during the ‘spike’ at 03:00 Saturday. Zero colour enhancement in post processing. The greens were JUST visible with the naked eye: pic.twitter.com\/Z9uQA4fFaW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andy Saunders \u2013 Apollo Remastered (@AndySaunders_1) May 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\"\"
Ohio\u2019s Aurora 05-10-2024, captured in front of John Chumack\u2019s observatory domes at JBSPO in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Canon 6DDSLR 16mm F2.8 lens, ISO 1250, 10 second exposure. Credit: John Chumack, galacticimages.com. Used by permission. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"\"
\u201cBonkers\u201d aurora display in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Credit: Robert Sparks. Used by permission. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n

8 hrs, 2 camera batteries, 500 photos & a full memory card later, we’re home after our epic aurora hunt. Just a magical, magnificent night. Aurora filling the sky at one point, green curtains\/ red\/pink rays & beams, reflected in the reservoir we were parked next to up nr Shap\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/0iApnjZ05H<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Stuart Atkinson (@mars_stu) May 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\""\"
Aurora over Raisting Earth Station near near Raisting, Bavaria, Germany. \u201cWe experienced three waves of incredibly strong Aurora, especially for our rather Southern latitude. During the second wave we saw individual pulsating filaments dancing over our heads. What a breathtaking experience!\u201d Credit: Simeon Schmau\u00df, used by permission. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"\"
This colorful auroral display was visible from Bishopmill, Scotland, UK on May 10, 2024. \u201cIt was capped by several beautiful coronae, the holy grail for many aurora photographers. At times, the colours were clearly visible to the unaided eye.\u201d Credit: Alan Tough. Used by permission. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"\"
Aurora on May 10\/11 2024, taken from Ottawa, Canada with an iPhone 14 Pro Max. Credit: Andrew Symes. Used by permission. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Aurora Borealis on May 10, 2024 From British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Debra Ceravolo. Used by permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
\u201cThe moment when the Great Aurora of 2024 went from looking average to exploding and filling the entire sky. Until that moment, it looked cool, but nothing I hadn\u2019t seen from this location before. The curious part was it was in the western sky instead of the north when I normally see it. But in this moment, the entirity of the visible sky lit up in the most amazing light show I\u2019ve ever seen in my life. Credit: Dark Arts Astrophotography. Used by permission. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Unique view of the KP9 aurora on May 11, 2024 at Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. Credit: Northern Lights Graffiti. Used by permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n

The amount of insane beauty that\u2019s on my memory cards right now is almost overwhelming. Aurora chasing may be my new addiction.<\/p>\n

I also will likely release a shot or two in print, so if you want a memento from this event make sure you\u2019re on my email list! pic.twitter.com\/OjrthGlqJB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy) May 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\"\"
Aurora and the Moon seen over central Minnesota, USA. Credit: Nancy Atkinson<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Like this:<\/h3>\n

Like<\/span><\/span> Loading…<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n