Pilot captures jaw-dropping northern lights show from 36,000 feet (photos)

northern lights show in the sky, appears as curtains of purple and green light covering the entire sky. city lights are visible shining below.

When a severe G4 geomagnetic storm hit, this Dreamliner pilot had the perfect front-row seat. (Image credit: Matt Melnyk)

Last week, skywatchers across North America were treated to an extraordinary northern lights display, but airline pilot and photographer Matt Melnyk may have had the best view of all.

Cruising at 36,000 feet (11 km) during a flight from London to Calgary, Melnyk photographed the vivid aurora show on Nov. 12 from the cockpit of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Melnyk is no stranger to flying alongside the northern lights. "This time of the year, I get to see aurora 90% of the time on my flights across Europe," Melynk said. "But this particular flight was special because a severe solar storm was in progress."

Matt Melnyk

Matt Melnyk is an airline pilot and avid aurora chaser who regularly enjoys northern lights shows while cruising at 36,000 feet.

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curtains of magenta and green light dance in the sky, a thin blue line marking Earth's atmosphere is visible in the distance. — Northern lights captured from 36,000 feet. Earth's atmosphere is visible in the distance.(Image credit: Matt Melnyk)

On Nov. 11-12, a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm lit up skies across the northern hemisphere with vibrant auroras sweeping over Canada, the U.S. and even as far south as Mexico. The dazzling display followed the arrival of multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — bursts of magnetic field and plasma from the sun — launched by sunspot AR4274, one of the most energetic sunspot groups of the current solar cycle.

"It's rare to be flying at the exact time a major solar storm is happening, so I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to witness this event," Melnyk told Space.com.

To capture the scene, Melnyk used a Canon R6 Mark II paired with a Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM lens.

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curtains of magenta and green light dance in the sky, yellow spots from city lights fill the scene below. — Northern lights captured from 36,000 feet. City lights are visible below.(Image credit: Matt Melnyk)

"These photos were not that tricky to obtain thanks to new camera technology that allows me to get these photos handheld. The combination of a fast lens and a high-performing low-light camera makes it very simple." Melnyk said.

Just this week, Melnyk captured another dynamic display during a Nov. 17 flight from Calgary to London, photographing the northern lights as he flew over northeastern Alberta and north of Hudson Bay.

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inside airplane cockpit shows lights with controls and large windows with nothing but green auroras stretching outside. — Melnyk's view from the Dreamliner cockpit. (Image credit: Matt Melnyk)

Inspired to get out and capture amazing astrophotos for yourself? Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can help you get ready to capture the next stunning skywatching event.

Editor's Note: If you snap an astrophoto and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022 having previously worked for our sister publication All About Space magazine as a staff writer. Before joining us, Daisy completed an editorial internship with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre in Leicester, U.K., where she enjoyed communicating space science to the public. In 2021, Daisy completed a PhD in plant physiology and also holds a Master's in Environmental Science, she is currently based in Nottingham, U.K. Daisy is passionate about all things space, with a penchant for solar activity and space weather. She has a strong interest in astrotourism and loves nothing more than a good northern lights chase!

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