On the night of May 10, 2024, Rose and I were treated to an extraordinary sight: the aurora borealis, or northern lights, finally visible to us here in Northern Washington. We have been here for eight years, and this is the first time we have seen them. While they were probably glowing at other times in the past eight years, it was always cloudy, which ruined the show. This rare event painted the skies with vibrant colors from Washington state to Florida. For me, it was only the second time I had seen them.
We went out around 9:30 p.m. to check, but there was nothing. We almost went to bed when Rose saw messages on her phone from neighbors sharing their photos of the brilliant aurora. It was about 11:30 p.m. by then. We went outside to our backyard to enjoy the show.
Find the Big Dipper in one or more of these images
All of the photos on this page were taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max using the normal settings. They have not been edited or enhanced. It is truly amazing what our phones can do these days.
I wondered what caused the different colors and learned that the color variations are due to different gases and their altitudes: green from oxygen at lower altitudes, red from oxygen at higher altitudes, and blue or purple from nitrogen.
The aurora borealis is a captivating natural phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the sun interact with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. These particles, primarily electrons, are carried towards Earth by the solar wind. They are directed towards the polar regions when they reach the planet’s magnetic field. Here, they collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere, causing these molecules to become excited and emit light.
The recent aurora borealis event was a remarkable and rare experience for us and one that we will always remember. Whether you were fortunate enough to witness it firsthand or enjoyed the spectacular photos shared by others, the event highlighted the beauty and complexity of the aurora borealis. As we approach the peak of the solar cycle, I hope we get more opportunities to witness such dazzling displays. Keep looking up!
Note in the bottom right image that Ursa Major, i.e., the Big Dipper, is visible
