i thought they were only in alaska and canada? guess not:

 

 

 

Aurora Over Iowa

Credit & Copyright: Stan Richards (NightSkyEvents.com)

Explanation: Last Thursday evening, stars were not the only lights in Iowa skies. Spectacular northern lights also shone from the heavens, extending across the midwestern USA and other locations not often graced with auroral displays. The wide-ranging auroral activity was triggered as a large solar flare - an energetic cloud of particles blasted outward from the Sun a few days earlier - collided with planet Earth's magnetosphere. Alerted to conditions ripe for aurora, photographer Stan Richard recorded this apparition over Saylorville Lake, near Des Moines, Iowa, USA. While the colorful rays seem to end just above the water, they are actually at altitudes of 100 kilometers or more.

 

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061218.html

 

Beautiful.

Yes em, it can actually happen a bit further from the arctic circles than most people think.  Its rare even in optimal conditions but since most aurora occur during spring and autumn (equinoxes) you've got a very rare occurance there.  It might be a strong enough reaction between the solar winds and upper atmosphere (atomic oxygen) to produce a visible effect for that part of the region.  Or it could be a travelling ring of aurora that lasted long enough to reach the area.

And we HAVE been experiencing some big solar storms lately...

And we HAVE been experiencing some big solar storms lately...

^ My post in simpler language I guess.

But yes, thats it.

^Sky pretty.

^Sky pretty.

 

Rofl.  I get it King. :)

Thanks for the laughs, I appreciate it.

Beautiful photos.

 

In the early 1950s, on the night of my birthday (July1), we saw the Aurora Borealis from our farm in Northeast Indiana. It wasn't as vivid as in the photo above, but it was very noticeable and memorable.

 

Thinking back, it may have had some symbolism associated with my attaining puberty.

^It's all about rob_1412, isn't it.

^It's all about rob_1412, isn't it.

 

I don't like the tone of that! Let me straighten you out on something:

 

There's a big difference between being self-absorbed, and having a healthy, well-deserved respect and admiration for one's own fabulousness!  :whip:

 

 

 

:wink: :-D

 

(basking in the aurora-like glow of Rob's fabulousness)

I don't like the tone of that! Let me straighten you out on something:

 

There's a big difference between being self-absorbed, and having a healthy, well-deserved respect and admiration for one's own fabulousness!  :whip:

 

 

 

:wink: :-D

 

 

"It was in that moment that Rob 1412 was born.  And the angels said, hail unto thee, I have brought greatness to the Earth.  And Gawd said, let there be... Auroras?"

 

XP

^It's all about rob_1412, isn't it.

 

Hey what about me King!?

<<---- Still here!!! ;p

Progamer is fabulous in his own way as well.

Progamer is fabulous in his own way as well.

 

/dances with Kingfish :)