A powerful solar storm lit up the sky across much of the United States on Nov. 12, bringing the northern lights to areas that rarely see them. The vibrant glow of the aurora borealis lit up cities as far south as Atlanta, with faint ribbons of pink and green visible above the skyline.
In the northern states, the show was nothing short of spectacular — brilliant streaks of color stretching across the skies in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Minnesota.
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If you missed it on Wednesday night, don’t worry — you might still get another chance on Thursday night.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the storm is strong enough that the northern lights could again be visible across much of the country.
The Aurora Borealis lights up the night sky over Monroe, Wisconsin, on November 11, 2025, during one of the strongest solar storms in decades. The geomagnetic event pushes the northern lights deep into the continental United States, with vibrant pink, red, and green hues illuminating rural farmsteads and open fields across the Midwest. (Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images) 
The Aurora Borealis lights up the night sky over Monroe, Wisconsin, on November 11, 2025, during one of the strongest solar storms in decades. The geomagnetic event pushes the northern lights deep into the continental United States, with vibrant pink, red, and green hues illuminating rural farmsteads and open fields across the Midwest. (Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images) 
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 12: The aurora borealis glows above along Maple Grove Road in rural Monroe County as a strong geomagnetic storm from recent solar activity pushes the Northern Lights unusually far south on November 12, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. Displays were reported across the United States as far south as Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and north Florida. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/Getty Images) 
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 12: The aurora borealis glows above rural Monroe County as a strong geomagnetic storm from recent solar activity pushes the Northern Lights unusually far south on November 12, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. Displays were reported across the United States as far south as Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and north Florida. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/Getty Images)
Just check their online aurora map for the best viewing window — and keep your eyes on the sky.
