Powerful geomagnetic storm sparks stunning northern lights across North America (photos)

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The storm hit earlier than predicted, surprising skywatchers with a delightful aurora show.

northern lights in the sky and reflecting in the water below. they appear as green and magenta ribbons of light stretching across the sky.
The storm hit earlier than predicted, surprising skywatchers with a delightful aurora show. (Image credit: Daisy Dobrijevic)

A surprise strong (G3) geomagnetic storm lit up skies across the Northern Hemisphere overnight (Nov. 5-6), treating skywatchers to dazzling auroras from Canada to northern North America. Geomagnetic conditions have remained unsettled through Nov. 8, meaning aurora activity could continue as additional solar material sweeps past Earth.

Photographers across North America were treated to stunning displays of green, pink, and purple auroras rippling across the sky. We've rounded up some of the best views here.

Ethan Mok posted this impressive photo of his brother on X. What a hole-in-one!

"I think I just took the hardest golf picture possible of my brother," Mok wrote in a post on X.

Photographer Eric Bleicher captured a beautiful timelapse of the northern lights dancing alongside the full moon on Nov. 5.

Meanwhile, solar astrophysicist and Space.com contributor Ryan French enjoyed front row seats to the northern lights show while on a flight from Denver to Chicago.

Aurora chaser Landon Moeller spotted the aurora show in the skies above DeKalb, Illinois.

The northern lights were so bright and dynamic they could be captured in good detail in this video from aurora chaser Jeremy Rand.

Jason O'Young got a glimpse of the aurora show from Ontario, Canada, despite the full moon and clouds threatening to ruin the party.

"Northern lights visible in Southern Ontario despite the moonlight. This would be ridiculous with no moon out," O'Young posted on X.

Senior meteorologist Chris Stammers snapped this lovely aurora display above Winnipeg, Canada.

Editor's Note: If you snap a photo of the northern lights or southern lights over the weekend 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
Daisy Dobrijevic
Reference Editor

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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