Aurora Borealis visible in Nebraska

Recent strong geomagnetic storms resulted in a great view of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

According to NOAA, the Northern Lights “are the result of electrons colliding with the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere...the electrons are energized through acceleration processes in the downwind tail (night side) of the magnetosphere and at lower altitudes along auroral field lines.

“When they relax back down to lower energy states, they release their energy in the form of light. This is similar to how a neon light works. The aurora typically forms 80 to 500 km above Earth’s surface.”