The glorious Aurora Borealis, by J.C. Kavanagh

 

The award-winning Twisted Climb series
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Did you have eyes-to-the-skies last weekend? If yes, you may have been one of the fortunate ones to observe a celestial phenomenon known as the Northern Lights aka the Aurora Borealis. And what a beaut it was!

Photo by J.M. Graham, Samish Island, Washington, U.S.A.

This incredible 'art-in-the-night-sky' as I like to call it, has been occurring for millions (possibly billions?) of years. It happens when a powerful geomagnetic solar storm takes place, causing a burst, or in last weekend's case, multiple bursts of energy. These intense bursts of energy become solar flares and produce so much power that they erupt into a coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs are formed by billions of tons of plasma launched into space but surrounded by its magnetic field. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated the CMEs erupting from the sun between May 8 and May 12 took two days to reach the earth's outer atmosphere. Travelling in a solar wind speed of 750-800 km per second (470-500 miles per second), the geomagnetic storm was given a G-5 class rating, the highest for such an event. 

Based on historical research, scientists have determined that our sun has an 11-year cycle. This year, 2024, is the end of the cycle, resulting in increased sunspot activities, potentially more CMEs and, to our visual delight, potentially many more auroras.  

So how does a CME become an aurora borealis? I'll try my best to interpret the scientific explanation for this art-in-the-night-sky: depending on the speed of the solar wind projecting the CME, when this hot blast of high-speed, energized plasma hits the earth's magnetic field, the charged particles are deflected, resulting in a variety of auroras. Last weekend, all five of the types of auroras were visible - glows, patches, arcs, rays and coronas.

Photo by J.M. Graham, Samish Island, Washington USA

Photo by J.M. Graham, Samish Island, Washington, U.S.A.

Photo by A. Huff,
captured between Bayfield and Goderich, Ontario, Canada

A wee bit of trivia

The term 'aurora borealis' was first introduced by Galileo, back in 1619. 'Aurora' stems from the Roman goddess of the dawn, and 'boreas' is the the Greek translation for the northern wind.

Photo by J.M. Graham, Samish Island, Washington, U.S.A.

Photo by K. Lunansky, Goderich, Ontario, Canada

The aurora borealis event in May 2024 was seen across the world, including North America, Japan, northern India, China, Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands, the Bahamas, Hawaii and even southern parts of the globe: Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

The sun's hot spots on May 8, 2024,
as pictured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

Special thanks for the above event photos goes to my cousin's daughter, J.M. Graham, and my friends K. Lunansky and A. Huff! My view of the celestial event was nowhere near as dramatic and I'm grateful for their photography skills.

Though we don't often see the Northern Lights (unless you live waaay north), I will suggest you get a purview of another worldly dimension. Where is that you ask? It's in the dream world and the Un-World, found only in the award-winning Twisted Climb series. You won't be disappointed.

Until next time, stay safe and make sure you tell the ones you love, that you love them!

J.C. Kavanagh, author of
The Twisted Climb - A Bright Darkness (Book 3) Best YA Book FINALIST at Critters Readers Poll 2022
and
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2) voted BEST Young Adult Book 2018, Critters Readers Poll and Best YA Book FINALIST at The Word Guild, Canada
AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll
Voted Best Local Author, Simcoe County, Ontario, 2021
Novels for teens, young adults and adults young at heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com
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