Current:Home > InvestRed and green swirls of northern lights captured dancing in Minnesota sky: Video -Legacy Build Solutions
Red and green swirls of northern lights captured dancing in Minnesota sky: Video
View
Date:2025-04-26 07:19:24
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 [email protected]
veryGood! (676)
Related
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Defense Department civilian to remain jailed awaiting trial on mishandling classified documents
- Everything to Know About Dancing With the Stars Pro Artem Chigvintsev’s Domestic Violence Arrest
- A famous cherry tree in DC was uprooted. Its clones help keep legacy alive
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- The Prime Show: All bling, no bang once again as Colorado struggles past North Dakota State
- Defending champion Novak Djokovic is shocked at the US Open one night after Carlos Alcaraz’s loss
- Illinois man convicted in fatal stabbing of child welfare worker attacked during home visit
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Michigan Supreme Court rules out refunds for college students upended by COVID-19 rules
Ranking
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Police use Taser to subdue man who stormed media area of Trump rally in Pennsylvania
- Are banks, post offices, UPS and FedEx open on Labor Day? Here's what to know
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Broken Lease
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Ulta Flash Deals Starting at $9.50: You Have 24 Hours to Get 50% off MAC, IGK, Bondi Boost, L'ange & More
- Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ finds distributor, will open before election
- New Hampshire’s highest court upholds policy supporting transgender students’ privacy
Recommendation
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
What we know about bike accident that killed Johnny Gaudreau, NHL star
Women’s college in Virginia bars transgender students based on founder’s will from 1900
Brazil blocks Musk’s X after company refuses to name local representative amid feud with judge
NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
Brazil blocks Musk’s X after company refuses to name local representative amid feud with judge
Watch Travis Kelce annoy Christian McCaffrey in new Lowe's ad ahead of NFL season
Lululemon Labor Day Finds: Snag $118 Align Leggings for Only $59, Tops for $39, & More Styles Under $99