Aurora Borealis lights up NYC skies amid geomagnetic storm

NEW YORK – New Yorkers were treated to a celestial spectacle Thursday evening as the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, danced across the city's skyline.

A powerful geomagnetic storm from the sun triggered the typically elusive event, much to the delight of stargazers across the tri-state area.

The Northern Lights were reportedly visible in several northern states and even parts of the Midwest.

The phenomenon is caused by disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere, in this case triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun.

When a CME — a massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields — is thrown toward Earth, it interacts with our planet's magnetic field. These charged solar particles collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, thereby emitting light. The colors of the aurora vary depending on the type of gas involved – oxygen produces greens and reds, while nitrogen contributes purples and blues.

CMEs can cause radio and satellite interference and, in some cases, affect the power grid.