CALIFORNIA, USA — The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, were visible Thursday night into early Friday morning in some areas in Northern California.
People who headed north in areas with clear and dark skies got a glimpse of the colorful skies.
One of the most important ways to increase your odds of seeing a rare and beautiful event is to seek out the darkest skies possible. A common mistake is to go out too early to sunset in an urban or suburban environment and assume you will see it easily. Light pollution and obstructions like trees or houses to the north will kill any viewing experience even during the strongest geomagnetic storms.
ABC10 Meteorologist Rob Carlmark captured this photograph of the northern lights in Clarksburg:
We are in a very active cycle of the sun and many disturbances are sending geomagnetic storms to Earth resulting in some disruptions of communications, but more interesting to many are the abundant and sometimes spectacular northern lights known officially as the aurora borealis.
Gabrielle Robinson captured this photo from Placerville:
The most visible displays begin days prior with a massive eruption on the sun known as a solar flare. They rate these storms on a scale from 1 to 5 with the higher numbers indicating more impacts. Geomagnetic energy can interfere with various wavelengths used for communication and power grid infrastructure.
These are rare events worth planning and making an effort to see. Most people who take extra steps to enhance their viewing are rewarded with amazing images and lifelong memories.
Below are some photographs people captured of the northern lights in the Greater Sacramento Area.
Corey M. took this photograph near Roseville:
Lisa Neula took this photo from her backyard in Sacramento:
Watch more on ABC10 | Stunning video of Northern Lights in Modoc County | Aurora borealis
