The Northern Lights Came to Creekside

 

Northern Lights, Anacortes, WA May 10, 2024 11:45 PM, photo by June Jossy
Photo:  June Jossy

First, a little science.  The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are caused by solar storms in the corona or upper atmosphere of our sun.  Solar mass ejections hurl charged particles into space creating the solar wind.  The earth's magnetic field directs these particles towards the northern and southern poles.  The aurorae are created when the energized particles slam into the upper atmosphere.  In the southern hemisphere, the phenomenon is called aurora australis.

Our neighbor June took this photo at Creekside Circle, Anacortes, Washington on May 10, 2024 at 11:45 PM.