Photo acquired on May 11, 2024, from near Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada. Credit: Gunjan Sinha
NASA’s Aurorasaurus project captured images of a major aurora borealis event via ground observers during a significant geomagnetic storm.
On May 11, 2024, the day-night band of VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite spotted the aurora borealis over the United States during the strongest geomagnetic storm in over two decades. That same night, observers on the ground captured spectacular photographs of the dazzling light. The following photos represent just a handful of those shot by citizen scientists as part of NASA’s Aurorasaurus project, which tracks aurora sightings around the planet.
Photo acquired on May 11, 2024, from near Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada. Credit: Gunjan SinhaPhoto acquired on May 10, 2024, from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, U.S. Credit: Kashmir WilkinsonPhoto acquired on May 11, 2024, from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, U.S. Credit: Kashmir WilkinsonPhoto acquired on May 10, 2024, from Sydney in Manitoba, Canada. Credit: Justin AndersonPhoto acquired on May 10, 2024, from Sydney in Manitoba, Canada. Credit: Justin AndersonPhoto acquired on May 11, 2024, from Steep Rock in Manitoba, Canada. Credit: Justin AndersonPhoto acquired on May 11, 2024, from Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada. Credit: Jeremy KuzubThe aurora australis dazzled viewers in the southern hemisphere. Photo acquired on May 11, 2024, from Nugget Point on the South Island of New Zealand. Credit: Allison JaynesPhoto acquired on May 11, 2024, from Nugget Point on the South Island of New Zealand. Credit: Allison JaynesPhoto acquired on May 11, 2024, from Utica, Ohio, U.S. Credit: Christian HarrisPhoto acquired on May 11, 2024, from the Glasfynydd Forest in Wales. Credit: Hannahbella Nel
I love sky watching and as a former member of a group of traveling Outback campers, we visited states for their focal natural features as well as the manmade architecture! I became fascinated with auroras as an adult because I had never seen one until riding back from Northern MN to home and awaking to the movement & colored lights about 40 years ago. My kids scoffed at my ignorance and berated my science knowledge. So the next trip up north I bought an excellent photographic book displaying auroras! Love, Love them! The stars in Wyoming looks awesome, literally of Bible description. Thank you !!
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I love sky watching and as a former member of a group of traveling Outback campers, we visited states for their focal natural features as well as the manmade architecture! I became fascinated with auroras as an adult because I had never seen one until riding back from Northern MN to home and awaking to the movement & colored lights about 40 years ago. My kids scoffed at my ignorance and berated my science knowledge. So the next trip up north I bought an excellent photographic book displaying auroras! Love, Love them! The stars in Wyoming looks awesome, literally of Bible description. Thank you !!
Thank you for allowing us to copy on our devices. I want to post on social media to show others who have not seen an aurora