Across North America, the night skies have recently been illuminated with spectacular displays of the Northern Lights, stirring excitement and wonder among stargazers. This stunning natural phenomenon, known scientifically as the aurora borealis, has been especially visible not just in typically dark northern regions but also within states like Iowa, Colorado, and even parts farther south.
On the evening of October 12, residents of Iowa were treated to this mesmerizing light show, with sightings reported statewide, including remote Carroll County. Marvin Percha, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Des Moines office, provided insight on the occurrence. "These storms send huge amounts of charged particles toward the Earth, which interact with our magnetic field," Percha explained. Drawing on analogies, he likened the process to fluorescent lights, where electric currents passing through gas create various colors. Given the intensity of the solar storm at play, the auroras extended to middle latitudes, allowing Iowans to witness this breathtaking sight.
This isn't the first time Iowans have enjoyed the stunning display of the aurora borealis. Back in May, the lights were also visible, thanks to the sun's current magnetic field being on an active 11-year solar activity scale. Percha noted, "We’re currently at the most active part of this solar phase, and what happens is as we progress through the next couple of years, the sun is expected to quiet down again." With this cyclical phenomenon, Percha added, predictions for heightened auroral activity could emerge again 11 to 12 years from now.
Forecasting for these luminous displays remains complex, as meteorologists can only predict them days, if not hours, prior. According to Percha, it all hinges on solar flares: "Basically, the solar flare has to occur, and even if it does, it must be oriented correctly to send charge particles directly toward Earth. By knowing what happened on the sun, we can get estimates of visibility closer to the event itself."
For those hoping to catch the next display of the Northern Lights, Percha recommends heading to areas where the skies are darkest, away from city lights. The closer to the rural expanses, the clearer the view tends to be. This past week’s display brought joy to many, capturing stunning photographs and creating lasting memories.
Meanwhile, reports of the northern lights were not just limited to Iowa. Residents of Colorado also experienced the spectacular phenomenon. Despite predictions limiting the view to northern states, numerous sightings were documented across various Colorado locations. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center indicated the unique solar activity making such displays plausible for regions typically deprived of this spectacle.
Over the past week, enhanced solar conditions culminated from strong solar winds and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun. These massive bursts of solar energy and magnetic field propelled highly charged particles against Earth’s magnetic field, creating vibrant auroras across larger swathes of North America. According to NOAA meteorologist, the torque of these solar wind streams was sufficient to push the auroral oval southward during the geomagnetic storm.
The visuals associated with auroras are nothing short of breathtaking: streaks of green, pink, or red lighting up the sky. The colors depend on the elevation at which the interactions occur. At higher altitudes, these lights appear predominantly green, but as the earth curvature lowers the interaction, shades of red can be observed.
Eyes turned up north when NOAA issued warnings about the potential for the auroras to penetrate deep south. Earlier this month, the auroras were spotted from the typically sunny skies of Alabama to the mountain ranges of Northern California. Adith Ramakrishnan, writing for Central Oregon Daily, noted the excitement building as anticipation drummed up for this natural marvel, encouraging the public to seek darker places away from urban light pollution.
Ahead of this week, forecasts indicated optimal moments for viewing the auroras would fall between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. That coincided with the arrival of the full moon, which added slight complication to the dazzling display due to increased brightness washing out visibility.
For the committed stargazers and photographers, capturing the lights requires some know-how. Experts recommend settings adjustments for both smartphones and professional cameras to optimize chances of capturing the stunning spectacle. Adobe encourages the usage of lower shutter speeds and higher ISO values for best results.
Overall, this solar activity and its stunning manifestation drew outdoor enthusiasts and families alike to the open sky, with the icy air punctuated by radiance above. And for those who missed it this time, there may be other opportunities on the horizon as the current solar activity is expected to peak over the coming months due to Solar Cycle 25.
Given the sun’s unpredictable activity, NOAA continuously monitors its solar weather conditions. The agency tracks these solar storms' impacts, both visually, through amazing auroras, and technologically, with potential disruption to GPS and electricity—though outages and severe disruptions are rare. With forecasts promising more activity leading up to 2026, the anticipation for the next stunning show continues to grow.
Indeed, capturing the moment when the heavens paint their canvas evokes wonder and curiosity. The auroras serve as both reminders of natural beauty and the intimate connections linking our world with solar phenomena far beyond our skies.
