The gorgeous Northern Lights is something that lies on everybody’s bucket list waiting to be crossed out. It is something straight from a dream… but sadly you will never see them! Because they only happen in Northern Canada and Alaska… right? The dazzling night of October 10, 2024 proved that this is far from the truth!
The Northern Lights, scientifically known as the Aurora Borealis, is a striking phenomenon that occurs when charged particles (protons and electrons) from the Sun are expelled on such a massive scale into the Earth’s magnetic field and collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions produce “tiny flashes that fill the sky with colorful light. This light works the same way as a neon lamp or an old cathode ray tube television set,” (Canadian Space Agency).
Typically auroras only occur in the very Northern or Southern parts of the globe because it is easier for auroras to form when they are closer to the poles of the Earth’s magnetic field. However, particularly strong bursts of energy from the Sun can prompt many parts of the Earth to see these magnificent shows of light, and that is precisely what happened on the night of October 10th.
People all over New York and New Jersey had the opportunity of a lifetime to see the Northern Lights for the first time. Spectacular photos from residents of New Jersey are all over the place as you didn’t have to board a plane to Alaska, it was as easy as walking out of your home and looking at the beautiful and colorful sky. Colors like pink, purple, blue, red, and green danced all over the skies of people’s neighborhoods.
Even in places such as New York City, when you are in a spot with more light pollution (or in Layman’s terms, there is less light around you) you can see the beautiful Aurora Borealis.
Sadly, according to CBS News, it was unlikely that there will be an “encore” on the night of October 11, and the weekend following had little to no sightings.
However, this amazing moment that is now ingrained in the memory of thousands of New Jersey residents may not be the last time it happens. Yes, you heard that correctly, this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence may not actually be once in a lifetime.
The reason the Northern Lights happened was because the Sun launched a massive burst of energy at the Earth, but according to Scientists that is most certainly not the last time that will happen in the coming year. The Sun is reaching what is known as its ‘Solar Maximum,’ an event that happens every eleven years when the magnetic poles of the Sun flip. This causes the Sun to become extremely active, as sunspots appear to cover the Sun, massive solar flares launch out into the void of Space, and energy from these flares hits the Earth and creates these beautiful shows of light.
According to NASA, the Sun will reach a particularly strong Solar Maximum in 2025, a mere few months away as of the writing of this article. Northern Light activity is more abundant during a Solar Maximum, and since “electromagnetic activity is increasing as the sun continues to reach the height of its 11-year solar cycle, [which is] expected to [happen] in 2025” the occurrence of Northern Lights will increase as well (NASA). Hence, we can expect the possibility of more sightings of the Northern Lights in New Jersey in the future. Only time will tell.
