Photo by Tommy Worth and his son
CALIFORNIA, Md. – Seeing the Northern Lights, to some, is something that would not be viewable in SOMD.”Maryland is too far south to view most northern light displays, but they are occasionally visible”, said MGS. However, this spectacular phenomenon graced the night sky on October 10, 2024, resulting in a beautiful array of pinks and purples spread across the horizon.
According to MGS, “Every eleven years the Sun reaches a period of maximum surface activity, known as the solar maximum. During this period, the Sun produces the greatest number of sun spots and associated phenomena, and generates intense “space weather“. Very large solar flares and coronal mass ejections erupt from the Sun during the solar maximum, ejecting clouds of energetic debris toward Earth. “
Photo by Samantha Green
“When this material slams into our planet’s upper atmosphere geomagnetic storms are created. The result of this solar activity can include potential hazards such as disruption of electronic communications and electrical power transmission. On the brighter side, a geomagnetic storm can trigger aurora borealis, or “Northern Light” displays, that might be visible in Maryland if the storm is strong enough. During periods of maximum solar activity, Marylanders have a better chance of viewing these spectacular light shows.”
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Photo shared by Wm Hugh Conway II
Photo shared by Teresa Trach Fowler
Photo by Tommy Worth and his son
Photo by Tommy Worth and his son
Photo by Tommy Worth and his son
Photo shared by Brittany Kaleda
Photo shared by Angela Robertson
Photo shared by Wm Hugh Conway II
Northern Lights in Mechanicsville
Photo by Tommy Worth and his son
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This article is lacking in very important information as to the cause of seeing these “Northern Lights” so far south here in Maryland. These auroras were also seen as far south as Florida and Cuba. This is extremely rare. The solar storm, CME, that occurred wasn’t even that strong and was relatively weak compared to others. What has happened is that our magnetosphere, that protects the earth from harmful space weather, has lost near 30% of its field strength since the mid 1800s, and continues to weaken. In the past, with a full strength magnetosphere, seeing auroras this far south this would have never happened, unless there was a more powerful X flare from the sun, similar to the Carrington event in the 1800’s when the magnetosphere was at full strength. That event caused auroras everywhere and lit of the skies around the earth and melted the telegraph system.
fantastic that you cleared that up, please vote against the state constitution amendment
I’m a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. We would like for the gentleman W. Hugh Conway ll to please get in touch with us. Thanks. 3018622247.