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See Photos: Gorgeous Aurora Borealis Descends On Long Island

By Long Island Press Posted on October 11, 2024

aurora

A well-timed flight gives a perfect view of the northern lights over a sea of clouds.

Jarred Tasch

It’s exceptionally rare for the aurora borealis, or northern lights, to be visible as far south as Long Island, but thanks to yesterday’s severe geomagnetic storm where around one billion tons of solar plasma collided with earth’s magnetic sphere, we were able to catch a lucky glimpse of the phenomenon.

Here are some pictures captured across Long Island — or even 30,000 feet in the air!

aurora — The aurora shone over King’s Park on Oct. 10.Barb Lobosco

aurora — The aurora borealis reminded Long Island photographer Barb Lobosco of ‘spirits in the sky.’Barb Lobosco

aurora — The aurora as captured by the National Weather Service in New York.National Weather Service NY

aurora — The beauty of the northern lights has inspired millenia of mythology, from the Norse to the Innuit to the Greek.Emily Haldas

aurora — Reds and greens washed over the night sky last night, thanks to a geomagnetic storm.Jarred Tasch

aurora — A smattering of stars still shone through the aurora at Fire Island.Heather Brody

aurora — The stars really have to align to time a night flight perfectly with a once-in-a-lifetime showing of the northern lights as far south as Long Island.Alyssa Formisano

aurora — The Jones Beach night sky on Oct. 10 was a watercolor work of art.Emily Haldas

aurora — The aurora — pictured here at Basalm Farm — was particularly bright on the east end, where the extra distance from New York City means far less light pollution to block the view.Aubrey Peterson

aurora — The pinks and purples of the aurora lit up Long Island from Nassau to the east end.Hailey Ferrara

Jennie Siesener aurora — The view of the aurora borealis while flying out of JFK airport last night was breathtaking.Jennie Siesener

aurora — The aurora is sometimes difficult to see with the naked eye — but our phones and cameras have an easier time.Timothy Bolger

aurora — When we see greens and pinks dance across the night sky, it’s really earth’s magnetic sphere absorbing energy from highly-charged sun plasma in a geomagnetic storm.Alyssa Formisano

aurora — Plainview got a gorgeous view of pinks and purples last night.Jordan Vallone

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