New video shows stunning Aurora Borealis over South Dakota
www.bbc.com
Officials at Nasa say the sun is at the peak of its 11-year cycle, known as "solar maximum", which could lead to more severe geomagnetic storms.

I know there are rainbow colored northern lights like you see in pics, but I don’t think anyone in the US would be able to see them that way. Correct me if I’m wrong, I would love to see them here if it’s possible.

  • calliope
    3·
    3 days ago

    It was purple/red when I saw it here last week! I live in the middle of Illinois, next to a city.

    It wasn’t detailed to the naked eye like the video or like in pictures for me (maybe because of light pollution?), but it was definitely a purple red color.

    I know because I was like “what is that color??” I thought of some event or something in the city that direction, but it was weird that it was purple. Then I thought about weed farms, but it would have to be so many weed farms! Then it hit me that it was Aurora borealis.

    In photos it’s obviously more striking but I am certain was something other than green!

    I had my flash on like a dweeb in my yard, but that made the striations(?) look more interesting so I should remember that for next time.

    A friend north of me, also in Illinois but on a farm, got more green toward the horizon as well in photos but to the naked eye he said it looked more like cloud cover.

      • calliope
        2·
        3 days ago

        I’m with you, I still can’t believe it.

        I keep wanting to paraphrase the Simpsons. Aurora borealis? Here??