Over the weekend, people in the Pacific Northwest were treated to a mesmerizing spectacle: a breathtaking combination of the northern lights and the Perseid meteor shower.
Solar storms have been responsible for creating stunning displays of colorful auras across the Northern Hemisphere. Over the past few days, the sun has emitted at least five powerful solar flares that contain a significant amount of high-energy particles. These flares, as noted by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), can potentially disrupt power grids and GPS signals. Fortunately, no major issues have been reported so far. It is worth mentioning that the sun’s magnetic field is currently at the peak of its 11-year cycle, resulting in an increased occurrence of storms and mesmerizing aurora displays.
The Perseid meteors have been a spectacle for weeks, captivating stargazers from mid-July to late August. The highly anticipated shower reached its peak on August 12th, providing an incredible display in the night sky.
Several KGW viewers have submitted photographs of the bright skies they observed on Sunday night.
While watching the Perseid meteor shower, Tom Griswold of Damascus reported witnessing the northern lights. Griswold posted a snapshot of the sky lighting purple and pink around 11:40 p.m. on August 11.
Rejeania Heide also reported seeing beautiful pink skies and numerous meteors.
Jay Shah viewed the aurora borealis in a spectacular setting.
“Sky is on fire!” “Tonight’s northern lights over Mount Hood from Trillium Lake, Oregon,” Shah said on Instagram.