The skies above New York City were painted in hues of pink, purple, and green on Thursday night as a rare celestial spectacle unfolded. The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, were visible across the city, captivating residents and sparking a frenzy of excitement.
This extraordinary event was caused by a geomagnetic storm, triggered by a massive solar flare. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explained that a cloud of charged solar material, known as a coronal mass ejection, collided with Earth around midday on Thursday, leading to the ‘severe’ geomagnetic storm. While the northern lights were a breathtaking sight, the storm also had the potential to disrupt power grids, GPS systems, and radio communication, according to Space.com.
New Yorkers flocked to rooftops, parks, and streets, their faces turned upwards, awestruck by the dazzling display. Social media was flooded with photos and videos, capturing the vibrant dance of light across the night sky. One witness, Anna Kathryn Barry, a lawyer, described the spectacle to The New York Times, stating, “At first, it looked like purple clouds almost. Then it started to get richer in colour.”
The northern lights, typically observed near the Arctic Circle, were visible as far south as Washington DC and Kentucky, highlighting the intensity of the geomagnetic storm. While the occurrence of the aurora borealis is unpredictable, December to March are generally considered the prime months for viewing, along with August to April in some instances, according to Conde Nest.
This remarkable event served as a reminder of the incredible forces at play in our universe, and the power of nature to deliver awe-inspiring spectacles, even in the heart of a bustling metropolis like New York City.
