Auroras appeared more faintly for a second night in a row on the northern horizon in central Nebraska, this picture is a 15 second exposure, (Brian Neben, Courtesy)
KEARNEY — For the second night in a row, auroras appeared faintly on the northern horizon in central Nebraska as a strong solar storm continued to impact Earth.
The geomagnetic storms occurred when two coronal mass ejections (CME), large blasts of plasma, impacted Earth’s magnetic field. Two CME’s arrived on Earth on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
The resulting storm reached G4 (Severe) levels, the second highest on a five-step scale that is used by the Space Weather Prediction Center.
“Auroras have been happening more frequently in the United States for a while, and will continue to do so for several months. This influx of shimmering colors comes because the sun is reaching the peak of its 11-year cycle and, therefore, its solar maximum,” according to NPR.
“The solar maximum causes solar eruptions, and this increase of activity brings ions, or electrically charged particles, closer to Earth. This stream of particles is known as the solar wind,” per NPR.
“When the sun is at its solar maximum, the number of solar eruptions increases, which is why there are more auroras in the sky. Usually, this activity only takes place near the Arctic Circle, but since solar activity is strong right now, viewing areas have expanded to other regions, like the Midwest,” per NPR.
The auroras were barely visible to the naked eye in Nebraska on Wednesday night, a 10 to 15 second exposure with a camera could draw out more of the color from the scene.
