Northern Lights Dazzle From Alaska to New Mexico This Weekend

Nature just delivered one of the most spectacular light shows in recent memory, and millions of people got front-row seats.

Stunning northern lights lit up skies across the United States and beyond this weekend as a powerful geomagnetic storm pushed auroras far south of their typical Arctic home. People from Alaska to New Mexico witnessed the dazzling display, with equally brilliant shows appearing across Europe and Australia.

The cosmic fireworks came courtesy of Earth getting hit by a complex wave of solar energy. Multiple coronal mass ejections from the sun, combined with a fast stream of solar wind, created what scientists call a strong G3 geomagnetic storm.

In Fairbanks, Alaska, photographer Hasan Akbas captured a rare "aurora corona" appearing directly overhead like a celestial crown. The colorful curtains of light danced above snow-capped mountains in scenes that looked almost too beautiful to be real.

But the magic wasn't limited to polar regions. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, aurora chaser Hunter Fowkes watched pillars of light so bright at 1:30 a.m. they nearly rivaled the sun's brilliance. Even more remarkable, the auroras reached as far south as New Mexico, where photographers captured a rare red glow at 36 degrees north latitude.

Across the Atlantic, the Yorkshire Dales in England glowed with pink and green ribbons of light. In Northern Ireland, faint pink auroras broke through hazy skies above the ancient Giant's Causeway. Downtown Reykjavik, Iceland watched the lights explode overhead in a burst of color.

The Bright Side

Southern Hemisphere skywatchers got their own show too. Aurora australis, or southern lights, painted the skies over Victoria, Australia in brilliant displays that photographers captured using just their iPhones.

The best part? The show might not be over. Minor to moderate geomagnetic activity could continue through March 23, giving more people a chance to witness nature's most magical light display.

While we can't predict exactly when the next big aurora event will happen, this weekend proved that when the sun decides to put on a show, it doesn't disappoint. And thanks to modern forecasting, aurora chasers knew it was coming and were ready with their cameras.

The universe just reminded us that some of the most beautiful experiences are still completely free and available to anyone willing to look up.