TOLEDO, Ohio — Stargazers who went outside Sunday night in hopes of seeing the annual Perseid meteor shower were met with a second (and less frequent) celestial phenomenon: the Northern Lights.
Several WTOL 11 viewers sent in their photos of the Northern Lights - or Aurora Borealis - that made an appearance overnight. The Northern Lights aren't common as far south as northwest Ohio, but a particularly strong geomagnetic storm caused by solar flares can extend their reach.
Sunday night's lights clocked in at a Kp index of 7, indicating the presence of a strong geomagnetic storm.
If you were outside Sunday night but did not see the lights, it's not because you weren't looking. Unless a geomagnetic storm is incredibly strong, only a camera will be able to capture its more distinct structures since a camera lens can capture more light than the human eye.
This is at least the second time in 2024 northwest Ohioans were able to see the Northern Lights. In May, an extremely strong geomagnetic storm interacted with Earth's magnetic field and brought a beautiful display to the region. You can see more from that event in the story linked below:
Do you have photos you want to share? Submit them to the WTOL 11 news app by clicking the "near me" feature, or send them to news@wtol.com. Be sure to include your name and the location it was taken.
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