Captivating Northern Lights Display Illuminates North America

The northern lights, also known as the aurora, put on a dazzling display across the United States, including states like Minnesota, Michigan, Wyoming, and even as far south as Virginia, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Sightings were also reported in Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, and France. The lights were caused by a coronal mass ejection from the sun, which disturbed Earth's magnetic shield and excited nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere, resulting in the release of photons of light. Some lucky observers even spotted a rare natural light phenomenon called STEVE. The activity is expected to decrease, but the aurora may still be visible in high latitudes.