Though the aurora borealis, or northern lights, is most frequently noticed in March and September, it may possibly seem at different instances of the 12 months if circumstances are proper. As an example, in February 2026, a minor geomagnetic storm produced a placing show of sunshine swirling throughout northern skies.
The VIIRS (Seen Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite tv for pc acquired these photographs within the early morning hours of February 16. The VIIRS day-night band detects nighttime mild in a variety of wavelengths from inexperienced to near-infrared and makes use of filtering methods to look at indicators corresponding to metropolis lights, mirrored moonlight, and auroras. Whereas these satellite tv for pc knowledge are displayed in grayscale, auroras seem in varied colours to observers on the bottom, from inexperienced (the commonest) to purple to pink.
The primary picture (high) exhibits ribbons of sunshine that shimmered over the Denmark Strait and Iceland at 04:45 Common Time (4:45 a.m. native time in Reykjavík). The second picture exhibits the view farther west, the place the lights danced above the Canadian provinces of Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador at about 06:30 Common Time (1:30 a.m. native time in Montreal).
In accordance with the NOAA House Climate Prediction Heart, a minor geomagnetic storm was in progress throughout this era. Categorised as a G1—the bottom stage on a scale that goes as much as G5—such storms usually make the aurora seen at excessive latitudes. G1 storms may also trigger slight disruptions, together with weak fluctuations in energy grids and minor impacts on satellite tv for pc operations.
Later that day, circumstances intensified to a G2 storm, possible related to a coronal gap and a high-speed stream of photo voltaic wind. G2 storms are thought of average in energy and may often push auroral shows as far south as New York and Idaho.
A few week earlier, on February 10, a NASA rocket mission launched from the Poker Flat Analysis Vary close to Fairbanks, Alaska, to review {the electrical} setting of an aurora. The GNEISS (Geophysical Non-Equilibrium Ionospheric System Science) mission’s two sounding rockets gathered knowledge that can assist scientists create a 3D reconstruction of {the electrical} currents flowing from the northern lights. Mixed with observations from the bottom and area, this data may also help researchers higher perceive the system that drives area climate close to Earth.
NASA Earth Observatory photographs by Michala Garrison, utilizing VIIRS day-night band knowledge from the Suomi Nationwide Polar-Orbiting Partnership. Story by Kathryn Hansen.
Iceland, February 16, 2026
Canada, February 16, 2026
- NASA Science (2025, February 27) Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer. Accessed February 18, 2026.
- NASA Science (2025, January 23) Aurorasaurus. Accessed February 18, 2026.
- NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (2026, February 10) NASA Rocket to Conduct ‘CT Scan’ of Auroral Electrical energy. Accessed February 18, 2026.
- NOAA House Climate Prediction Heart by way of X (2026, February 16) EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic Ok-index of 5 anticipated. Accessed February 18, 2026.
- College of Alaska Fairbanks (2026, February) Launches x4: A number of missions saved everybody busy at Poker Flat. Accessed February 18, 2026.
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