Current:Home > reviewsRed and green swirls of northern lights captured dancing in Minnesota sky: Video -MacroWatch
Red and green swirls of northern lights captured dancing in Minnesota sky: Video
View
Date:2025-04-17 06:19:42
A photographer in Minnesota was able to capture video of a mesmerizing northern lights display as swirls of red and green danced across the night sky.
Another geomagnetic storm made the colorful phenomena known as aurora borealis visible during the weekend across the Midwest region of the United States, and Carol Bauer was there to document it Sunday in Grand Marais.
“My husband and I traveled to Grand Marais to see the fall colors and were thrilled to get a great view of the northern lights too,” Bauer told Storyful.
Bauer is among millions of Americans who should expect to have more opportunities in the coming months to catch the striking display as the sun reaches the height of its 11-year cycle.
Watch the video Carol Bauer captured of the Northern Lights:
Northern lights visible across Midwest
Last week, a massive solar flare accompanied by coronal mass ejections – clouds of plasma and charged particles – made their way toward our planet, driving a geomagnetic storm that made the auroras visible in multiple northern U.S. states.
Though the the natural light display in Earth's sky is famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the northern and southern hemispheres, the northern lights became visible during the weekend across the U.S. In addition to Minnesota, the stunning display of rays, spirals and flickers could be seen in places along the U.S.-Canada border and even as far south as Oregon and Pennsylvania, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.
Peak northern lights activity:What to know as sun reaches solar maximum
Peak aurora activity to coincide with height of solar cycle
Fortunately for aurora chasers, there will be far more opportunities to catch the northern lights soon.
Electromagnetic activity is increasing as the sun continues to reach the height of its 11-year solar cycle, which NASA said is expected to be in 2025.
As the sun reaches the peak of Solar Cycle 25, sunspots located in regions of intense magnetic activity should increase, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. When that magnetic activity is released, it creates intense bursts of radiation resulting in solar flares hurtling toward Earth at the speed of light.
Some of these flares can be accompanied by coronal mass ejections that emerge from the sun's outermost atmosphere, the corona.
These ejections can collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, the barrier protecting humanity from the harshest impacts of space weather, to produce geomagnetic storms that unleash spectacular views of the northern lights in parts of the country where auroras are not often visible.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
veryGood! (758)
Related
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Mega Millions winning numbers: Check your tickets for $355 million jackpot
- UAW will try to organize workers at all US nonunion factories after winning new contracts in Detroit
- South Korean farmers rally near presidential office to protest proposed anti-dog meat legislation
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Who is Miriam Adelson, the prospective new owner of the Dallas Mavericks?
- Burning Man narrowly passes environmental inspection months after torrential rain upended festival
- 2 men charged in Sunday shooting of suburban Chicago police officer who responded to car crash
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- CIA Director William Burns returns to Qatar in push for broader hostage deal
Ranking
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Texas city approves $3.5 million for child who witnessed aunt’s fatal shooting by officer
- Jason Kelce's Wife Kylie Reveals What It's Really Like Marrying into His and Travis Kelce's Family
- Permanent parking: Man sentenced to life in prison for murdering neighbor over parking spot
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Jennifer Garner Shares Insight Into Daughter Violet’s College Prep
- Riley the dog gets his final holiday wish: One last Christmas with his family
- Jets begin Aaron Rodgers’ 21-day practice window in next step in recovery from torn Achilles tendon
Recommendation
Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
AP Photos: Church that hosted Rosalynn Carter funeral played key role in her and her husband’s lives
Arizona officials who refused to canvass election results indicted by grand jury
Mega Millions winning numbers: Check your tickets for $355 million jackpot
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
Man charged with shooting 3 Palestinian college students accused of harassing ex-girlfriend in 2019
New book about the British royal family pulled in the Netherlands over name of alleged commenter about Archie's skin tone
Arizona officials who refused to canvass election results indicted by grand jury