Northern Lights

PHOTOS: Dazzling northern lights dance in the skies above New England

Pink and purple lights were seen in the sky according to photos from across the Greater Boston area on Thursday night

By Staff Reports • •

NBC Universal, Inc.

People throughout New England took photos of the aurora borealis Thursday night.

People across New England were treated to a show in the skies Thursday evening the likes of which haven't been seen in years.

The northern lights were visible across the region amid a geomagnetic storm watch, and people captured some amazing images, like these ones shared with NBC10 Boston:

Hunter taking in the view of the Northern Lights in Rutland, Massachusetts! (Chelsea O’Malley)
The northern lights over Lynn, Massachusetts (David)
Aurora from a geomagnetic storm over Northborough, Massachusetts (Pete Mo)

Here are many more aurora pictures that we spotted:

Mike Pescaro/NBC10 Boston
Northern lights over the NBC Boston Media Center in Needham, Massachusetts.
Courtesy
Northern lights over Brunswick, Maine
Jeff Saperstone/NBC10 Boston
Northern lights in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Kirsten Glavin/NBC10 Boston
Northern lights over Hyannis Port on Cape Cod
Kaitlin McKinley Becker/NBC10 Boston
Northern lights over Franklin, Massachusetts
Victoria Napoletano
Jennifer Russell
Victoria Napoletano
Northern lights over Newmarket, New Hampshire
Courtesy
Northern lights over Westminster, Massachusetts
Mark Garfinkel
Chelsea O’Malley
Hunter taking in the view of the Northern Lights in Rutland, Massachusetts!
David
Northern lights over Lynn ma
Pete Mo
Geomagnetic storm view from Northborough, MA
Mark
Northern lights over Campers Haven in Dennis Port, Massachusetts.
Lucy Broman
Northern lights as seen from the Chatham Fish Pier on Thursday night.
Richard
Aurora borealis over Lowell, Massachusetts.
Angelique Neptune
Aurora borealis over Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts.
Christian Ramirez
Mark Garfinkel
Keith Freeland

Space weather forecasters at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) have issued a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm watch for Thursday into Friday. Experts are monitoring the sun following a strong X-class solar flare and the resulting coronal mass ejection (CME).

According to the SWPC, analysis of the CME associated suggests further enhancement and that reaching G4 (Severe) levels is likely with G5 (Extreme) levels possible. What that means is another chance to see colors dance across the sky.

Given the strength of the CME, this aurora may be seen as far south as Charlotte, North Carolina, Fayetteville, Arkansas and Colorado.

While May's event was the most impressive recently, there have been other opportunities to spot the northern lights in New England.

More on the Northern Lights

Oct 6

PHOTOS: Northern lights visible in many parts of New England Sunday night

Massachusetts Aug 12

Northern lights visible in Mass. during Perseid meteor shower

May 10

Photos: Northern Lights visible in Connecticut

For optimal photos:

  • Get away from city light. Light pollution will dim the aurora’s view.
  • Use long exposure and place your camera on a tripod.
  • Use your camera to view the aurora. Your eyes have to adjust to the light, so viewing through the camera may be easier.
  • Bring a jacket! Temperatures are in the 30s and 40s tonight.

Share photos with us at shareit@nbcboston.com.

A powerful solar storm could disrupt power and communications, but also made the aurora borealis visible much farther south than usual. Pete Bouchard explains.

This article tagged under:

Northern Lights
Exit mobile version