Aurora Borealis Spotted in Atlanta

Rare Northern Lights Visible in Southern Skies

A stunning aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, was visible in the Atlanta area around 10:30 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The display was caused by a severe solar flare that erupted from the sun earlier in the day.

Auroras Caused by Solar Flares

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy that can occur in the sun's atmosphere. When these flares interact with the Earth's magnetic field, they can cause disruptions in the field, which in turn create the colorful displays of light that are known as auroras.

The solar flare responsible for the Atlanta aurora was a strong one, with a strength of Bt 4 nT Bz 1 nT. This flare was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on Thursday.

The aurora was visible for several hours, and it was a rare sight for people in the Atlanta area. The last time such a strong aurora was seen in the region was in 2021.

If you missed the aurora, don't despair. According to a media advisory from NASA, the solar flare that caused the display could lead to more Northern Lights sightings in the coming days and weeks. So, keep your eyes on the sky!