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The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, made a breathtaking appearance across U.S. skies on June 1, lighting up regions from Dufur, Oregon to San Antonio, Texas.

The celestial spectacle was documented in remarkable time-lapse videos, thrilling skywatchers across at least 20 states.

This awe-inspiring event followed a solar flare observed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which sparked a geomagnetic storm strong enough to produce visible auroras much farther south than usual.

https://youtu.be/Twn7cZFMOKg

“This is one of the most vivid and widespread auroras we've seen in years,” said a NOAA space weather forecaster. “Geomagnetic activity like this creates ideal conditions for visibility across the continental U.S.”

For up-to-date aurora forecasts, NOAA provides real-time updates on its Aurora Viewline.

What Are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are luminous bands of color, typically green, pink, red, or violet, that ripple across the night sky, especially in polar regions.

According to NASA, they occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere, producing these shimmering light waves.

Solar events such as flares or coronal mass ejections send energy toward Earth. This triggers geomagnetic storms that cause these brilliant lights, sometimes visible as far south as the mid-U.S. when activity is intense.

How to View and Photograph the Lights

Viewing the aurora doesn't require special equipment. Clear skies, low light pollution, and high geomagnetic activity are your best bets for catching the show.

Want to capture the moment? Use your smartphone’s “Night Mode” feature. Simply aim your camera at the sky, and let your phone do the magic. Some devices will even enhance the natural colors for a more vivid shot.

As one viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I didn’t believe the Northern Lights could show up in Texas—until I saw them dance across the sky last night. Absolutely unforgettable.”

More Sightings Expected

According to NOAA, the aurora could still be visible through Thursday, June 4, though the intensity may diminish. You can monitor viewing conditions and alerts through NOAA’s aurora forecast page and news updates.