Freak solar activity creates amazing Northern Lights as south as Alabama

AP

The Northern Lights are usually something you can only see by trekking to deepest, darkest Norway.

But, thanks to some freak solar activity yesterday, storm chasers across half of north America got to see a stunning sky-high display.

Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, are created when the Sun's atmosphere blasts electrically-charged particles into the protective magnetic field around the Earth.

When the particles are carried towards the poles and react with ions in the atmosphere, the amazing light show is created in the sky.

AP

This recent show, witnessed by stargazers in Washington, Arkansas, Alabama and Virginia, occurred thanks to a very clear night in the US.

According to the Daily Mail, the Sun's particles hit the Earth's magnetic with such force that it allowed them to be carried on the solar wind down to 22,000 miles in altitude - so much further south than usual.

Amateur photographer Brian Emfinger captured the rare occurrence after finding out about the aurora show on SpaceWeather.com.

He said it was only the second time in a decade that he has seen aurora borealis that far south.

He added: 'I ran out and put my camera out and immediately saw reddish aurora.

'I ran out into the field, and within a few minutes the aurora went crazy!'


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