Current:Home > StocksRed and green swirls of northern lights captured dancing in Minnesota sky: Video -Mastery Money Tools
Red and green swirls of northern lights captured dancing in Minnesota sky: Video
View
Date:2025-04-24 11:01:11
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! (21428)
Related
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Unpacking the century-long beef over daylight saving time
- Virginia school board elections face a pivotal moment as a cozy corner of democracy turns toxic
- Trump’s decades of testimony provide some clues about how he’ll fight for his real estate empire
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Why 'Tyler from Spartanburg' torching Dabo Swinney may have saved Clemson football season
- Save 42% on That Vitamix Blender You've Had on Your Wishlist Forever
- 'Wait Wait' for November 4, 2023: With Not My Job guest Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Would Summer House's Lindsay Hubbard Ever Get Back With Carl Radke After Split? She Says...
Ranking
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Foundation will continue Matthew Perry's work helping those struggling with 'the disease of addiction'
- Below Deck's Captain Jason Shares Update on 2 Fired Crewmembers After Sexual Misconduct Scandal
- Reneé Rapp duets with Kesha, shows off powerhouse voice at stunning New York concert
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Usher mourns friend and drummer Aaron Spears, who died at 47: 'The joy in every room'
- Why does Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' end 'Priscilla,' about Elvis' ex-wife?
- Live updates | Israeli warplanes hit refugee camp in Gaza Strip, killing at least 33 people
Recommendation
DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
Tola sets NYC Marathon course record to win men’s race; Hellen Obiri of Kenya takes women’s title
Large carnivore ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant talks black bears and gummy bears
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's Daughter Daisy Dove Is in Full Bloom at Her First Public Appearance
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
WWE Crown Jewel takeaways: Kairi Sane has big return, while Solo Sikoa and LA Knight shine
Claims of violence, dysfunction plague Atlanta jail under state and federal investigation
Federal judge's ruling puts billions at stake for NCAA