A big storm on the Sun Friday caused solar particle to enter the Earth's atmosphere on Sunday. The result was amazing auroras visible in unexpected places, and in unusual colors.
Space scientists believe the sunspots flung at least two clouds of charged particles—called coronal mass ejections, or CMEs—toward Earth, setting off the intense auroral display. Northern lights were seen rippling down from the Arctic and dancing into Canada and the United States, with sightings as far south as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Maryland.
See a range of such aurora in pictures at National Geographic News. Link
(Image credit: Brad Goldpaint)
The lights are indicators that the Magnetic Planetary Defense System is operating. Yay!
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