On May 10 & 11, 2024 most of the US experienced a maybe once or twice in a lifetime experience of seeing the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis from most anywhere in the State, including in the city, where light pollution usually washes out any chance of seeing this spectacular astronomical display.

Aurora In a Rural Area

AURORA IN NC-2

Figure 1. Effects of Minimal Light Pollution

This photograph was taken at the entrance to the Raffaldini Vineyards in Yadkin County and shows how bright the Aurora was that evening. You will notice on the left side of the photo where the typical night sky arches up over the horizon, pushing the Aurora higher in the sky. This is due to light pollution from a distant town or city washing out the Aurora, but for the most part this is a spectacular panorama of the Aurora on the night of May 10, 2024. 

Aurora In A Suburban/Town/City Area

AURORA IN NC-1

Figure 2. Impacts of Light Pollution.

This photo was taken at Lake Norman, Huntersville, NC on the night of May 10, 2024, a little later in the night. The pink colors are the Aurora. Notice how washed out the Aurora was from the light pollution from the town of Huntersville and the surrounding areas.

Coronal Mass Ejection

You may ask, so what caused the Aurora Borealis to appear so far South. The answer can be found on solar activity on the sun due to Solar Mass Ejections (CME). CMEs travel outward from the Sun at speeds ranging from slower than 560,000 miles per second (m/s) to as fast as 6,710,809 m/s. The fastest Earth-directed CMEs can reach our planet in as little as 15-18 hours. Slower CMEs can take several days to arrive.

CME-1

Figure 3. Sun spot activity.

The sun spot shown on this photograph of the Sun is responsible for causing this CRE.  The speed of this CRE was estimated at between 470-500 mi/s. The event was classified as a G5-class geomagnetic storm, making it the most intense storm since the 2003.  Several other CMEs were expected to reach Earth on 11 and 12 May.

So what is a G5-class magnetic storm. Here is a rating scale used by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 

Geomagnetic Storm Scale Figure 4. NOAA Geomagnetic Rating Scale

I hope you found this blog of interest and maybe even raised your curiosity to explore the night sky, If so please leave comments. Thanks!