Did You Catch the Northern Light Show?
Favorable conditions may lead to a reprise of the spectacle tonight
Early morning risers across Mendocino County who looked skyward Tuesday were treated to an unusual and colorful display as the northern lights became visible far south of their typical range. A coronal mass ejection from the sun sent charged particles toward Earth, painting the night with faint bands of purple, pink and green.
The display occurred as those particles passed through Earth’s magnetic field and collided with gases in the upper atmosphere, producing the aurora borealis. Clear skies and minimal moonlight helped make the phenomenon visible to the naked eye in Northern California, forecasters said, though the colors could be made more vivid using long-exposure photography techniques.
Auroras are normally seen at much higher latitudes, but an unusually strong geomagnetic storm created a rare spectacle for local stargazers. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned the storm could continue into Tuesday night, with potential impacts on power grids and satellites — and the chance of another light show if conditions remain favorable.