By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
Residents from all over West Michigan were treated to the bright lights and colors of the Aurora Borealis, also called the Northern Lights, over the weekend.
The Aurora showcased her beauty on the evenings of Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. Reports of sightings began around 10 p.m. on Friday. According to the NOAA, the Aurora is usually best viewed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
What is the Aurora Borealis?
The Aurora occurs when there are collisions between electrically charged particles (electrons) from the sun as they enter earth’s atmosphere.
The electrons transfer their energy to the atmosphere, stimulating the atoms and molecules to higher energy states. When decreasing back to lower energy states, the electrons release energy in the form of light.
What to expect when viewing the phenomena
While pale green and pink are the most common colors in auroral displays, blue, violet, green, yellow and red were also reported. The Aurora may also appear in various forms, from patches of light to arcs, rippling curtains or shooting rays.
The best way to view the Aurora
To view the Aurora, minimal light pollution is best. The lights will be visible on the northern horizon, or will appear higher in the sky if you are further north.
When taking pictures of the Aurora, longer exposure times will more clearly reveal the phenomenon’s colors that may only appear in faint hues to the naked eye.
