Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Northern Lights in NY: How the solar storm led to some spectacular displays
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 11, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 11, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Many New Yorkers caught a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights Thursday evening – a dazzling display of purple hues that even managed to cut through the city’s light pollution.
Though geomagnetic activity will remain high around Earth on Friday, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration models show the best place to catch a Friday encore of the aurora borealis will be farther north into Canada.
But several of us at New York Public Radio, Gothamist's parent company, were able to catch some great photos of the heavenly spectacle.
A view of the aurora borealis from Ossining
Jen Munson/Gothamist
The colorful exhibition was thanks to an especially strong solar storm that thrust millions of tons of plasma toward Earth – which also had the potential to mess with GPS systems and other technology by disturbing the planet’s magnetic fields.
A view of the aurora borealis from Central Park
Kate Hinds/Gothamist
Because of their magnetic nature, the electrons that cause the Northern Lights are normally just drawn to our planet’s poles, according to the NOAA. But major geomagnetic storms can cause those electrons to expand further afield, blinking and changing shape depending on the time of night. Skies must be clear in order to see them, and light pollution can make the viewing more difficult.
A view of the aurora borealis from Poughkeepsie
Steve Uckerman/Gothamist
Tagged
new york city
northern lights
solar storm
Health and Science
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .