Northern Lights – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Krissanapong Wongsawarng
Let the lights come on once more!
As a strong solar storm moved closer to Earth beginning Tuesday, Nov. 11, the northern lights were predicted to light up the night skies in about two dozen U.S. states.
However, images of a cold Florida night sky covered in pink are making the rounds on social media, suggesting that the aurora borealis outperformed. The Sunshine State saw the lights for the third time since 2024.
“This evening, I was surprised to see the aurora from northern Tallahassee,” commented Wright Dobbs, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, on X. faintly discernible as a very faint red glow to the unaided eye. Here, a long 25-second exposure is used, followed by editing to highlight the color the camera captured.
Photographs of pink skylines in Marianna, Tallahassee, Crawfordville, Bryceville, Titusville, and as far south as Orlando were among the reports of the spectacular light show that were being sent in from the Emerald Coast to the Nature Coast.
In October and May of 2024, inhabitants of Florida witnessed the uncommon aurora borealis show in the Deep South. Hurricane Milton, an earthbound monster storm, destroyed central Florida just hours before the October sky show. The catastrophic tornado outbreak in Tallahassee, another national tragedy, occurred just hours before the May northern lights.
This time, Florida just had to deal with an early cold snap and freeze warning before seeing the most recent light display, and the lights were more muted.
According to the most recent aurora forecast map from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the aurora could be seen in at least 21 states until Wednesday, November 12. NOAA states that the best time to see the northern lights is typically between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Central Time.
You might get another chance on Wednesday if you missed it on Tuesday. NOAA’s Space Prediction Center issued a rare G4 geomagnetic storm watch that is in effect through the evening of November 12 due to a coronal mass ejection of plasma clouds and charged particles that are fueling the storm.
According to the National Weather Service, the interaction between the sun’s plasma and Earth’s magnetic field is what causes the aurora borealis, which are the brilliant night skies.
Some pointers for seeing the northern lights
To find gloomy skies, move far from the lights of the city. The finest places are open farmland, public parks, or rural roads.
Observe the northern horizon low: If the aurora is visible at all, it will be low in the sky rather than overhead.
Stay up late: Although there may be spurts earlier or later, peak viewing may occur at any moment between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Keep in mind that these are only their best guesses.
– Even if the aurora may not be visible to the unaided eye, it still exists. Particularly with extended exposures, cameras are able to capture more light than your eyes can.
How to use a phone to capture images of the northern lights
Here’s how to take an Aurora Borealis photo that will make your friends envious.
If you own a mirrorless or DSLR camera:
To keep your camera steady, use a tripod.
Switch to manual mode on your camera.
Start with a higher ISO (about 1600–3200), a wide aperture (such as f/2.8), and an exposure of 10–15 seconds.
Manually focus, preferably on a far-off star or light.
When utilizing a smartphone:
Employ Night Mode or a specific app designed for low light levels.
– Either place your phone on a sturdy surface or hold it as steady as you can.
– Make use of the ability to manually adjust longer exposures on some more recent Android and iPhone models. Additionally, turn off your flash because the aurora dislikes being photographed.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.