Americans were given the experience of a lifetime on Nov. 11th when the Northern Lights put on an amazing display over the Lower 48.

The phenomenon occurs after solar events known as coronal mass ejections (CME), or solar flares , interact with the oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's magnetic field. This creates a geomagnetic storm , which produces the vivid colors in the sky.

NORTHERN LIGHTS DAZZLE ACROSS LOWER 48 DURING G4 GEOMAGNETIC STORM FROM STRONGEST SOLAR FLARE OF 2025

Skywatchers across the US took to social media to document the nighttime spectacle:

NEW HAMPSHIRE

ILLINOIS

• next Image 1 of 2 Northern Lights over Champaign, IL on November 11, 2025 (@wxkaitlynj/X)

• prev Image 2 of 2 Northern Lights over Marion County, IL (@caseyphotoz/X)

After seeing heavy snowfall earlier

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