Northern Lights over Whidbey
Published 1:30 am Friday, October 15, 2021
The dazzling northern lights appeared in the skies across the state this week because of a G2, or moderate, geomagnetic storm. Such an event is caused by a solar flare, or coronal mass ejection, that sent particles hurdling toward Earth; these charged particles interact with molecules in the atmosphere, resulting in dancing lights in northern skies. Residents across Whidbey Island captured images of the shimmering green lights.
