Geomagnetic Storm Light Show at Both Poles

Geomagnetic Storm Light Show at Both Poles

Aurora Australis (Southern Lights). May 1st, 2011. Credit: NASA/J. Dana Hrubes

by Staff Writers
Greenbelt MD (NASA) May 03, 2011
April 30: A solar wind stream that hit Earth's magnetic field during the weekend sent Northern Lights spilling over the Canadian border into the continental USA. "Magnificent May Day auroras lit up the night sky over Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on May 1st and into the wee morning hours of May 2nd," reports Tony Wilder.

Southern Lights: The solar wind impact sparked auroras over both ends of the planet. "After a slow start to the aurora observing season, we are finally getting some beautiful Aurora Australis here at the geographic South Pole (90 degrees S. latitude)," reports J. Dana Hrubes, science leader at the Amundsen-Scott Station. He took the picture above at the peak of the geomagnetic storm on May 1st. At this location the sun set on March 23rd and will not rise again until six months later.

Geomagnetic Storm Light Show at Both Poles