Did you see it ? The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, were visible across the Philadelphia region Thursday night. A stunning nighttime display danced across the skies thanks to an unusually strong geomatic storm.
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a gorgeous natural light display that occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere. Regarding as “the holy grail of skywatching“, this phenomenon happens most commonly near polar regions, where these solar particles interact with the planet’s magnetic field.
Indeed, the result is breathtaking! Typically, the Northern Lights are best seen in areas like Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia.
However, under rare conditions, they can appear much further south.
A rare sighting in Philly
Last night, Philadelphia was treated to a rare glimpse of this incredible event. A strong solar storm sent a wave of charged particles into Earth’s atmosphere, pushing the auroras down to latitudes that rarely get to experience them
Specifically, beginning Thursday night around 8pm, the Northern Lights were visible across the Philadelphia region. As the sky darkened over Philly, locals looked up to see shades of pink, purple, and red dance across the sky.
Moreover, social media quickly lit up with videos and photos. Many people were surprised to see the shimmering waves of bright hues stretching across the horizon.
For many, the experience was a reminder of the beauty and unpredictability of nature.
The Northern Lights over Philly turned an ordinary night into a magical one.
When will they be visible again?
Notably, if you missed Thursday’s dazzling display there is a slight chance to capture the Aurora Borealis Friday night. According to 6abc meteorologist Karen Rodgers, the Kp-Index, which is used to measure global auroral activity, was at an 8.5 out of a 0-9 scale on Thursday night.
Friday night is expected to be a five on the scale.
The best time to possibly catch this natural rare phenomenon is between 10pm -2am. The amount of visibly is also dependent upon how clear the night skies will be.
For best viewing options, it is recommend to sky gaze away from city lights -take a drive to the burbs.