Geomagnetic Storm Aurora over Chicago-area: Airplane View

Geomagnetic Storm Aurora over Chicago-area: Airplane View

Photographer Kasha Patel: "Saw the aurora for the 2nd time . . . but from an airplane! Surprised I saw the red and greens and the oval structure surrounding me.🤩More illuminating (hehe) is how light pollution affects aurora viewing . . ."

Auroras happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, creating dazzling light shows in the sky. The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, occurs in an upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere.

Learn more & track auroras: 
https://www.aurorasaurus.org

How to find and photograph auroras: 
https://science.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-guide-to-finding-and-photographing-auroras/

Illinois is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash and Ohio rivers to its south. Chicago is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan. It is currently the third-most populous city in the United States.

Kasha Patel is a journalist with The Washington Post that "covers science occurring from our Earth to outer space." 

Image Credit: Kasha Patel
Kasha's websites: https://x.com/KashaPatel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/kasha-patel/
Release Date: Nov. 12, 2025

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