Science & Nature
Northern Lights Put on Spectacular Show in Chicago, If You Were in the Right Place at the Right Time
A faint view of the northern lights over Lake Michigan, near Foster Avenue beach, Oct. 10, 2024. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
The Space Weather Prediction Center absolutely nailed its forecast for Thursday night, with a spectacular display of the northern lights dazzling sky watchers across the U.S. from the Florida Keys to New York City’s Central Park.
Or not. Experiences varied widely, depending on when a person happened to be looking up, and from where.
The aurora flared up in Chicago shortly before 9 p.m. and again after 11 p.m., rewarding patient and persistent viewers with a brilliant show that was, according to many reports, visible to the naked eye even under the city’s light-polluted skies.
Where some folks were treated to saturated fuchsias and neon greens — especially when seen through a camera lens — others caught dimmer flashes of subtle color (put this reporter in that camp). Plenty of others picked the wrong time to point their iPhone toward the darkened horizon and saw nothing at all.
The good news is that the current cycle of solar activity — which is what’s been producing the geomagnetic storms causing recent intense auroras at lower latitudes — is still approaching its maximum. So for all those suffering from FOMA (fear of missing an aurora), there could be another shot at redemption.
Here are some images from around Chicago and Illinois, as shared on social media (there are loads of photos in the comments sections).
The northern lights are becoming quite vivid for those away from the more significant light pollution. Clear conditions tonight will continue to promote great viewing opportunities! https://t.co/qWqOnW1Gl0
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) October 11, 2024
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
