Aurora ballet: Aurora danced it's way across the Prairies

On the evening of October 7th, 2024, the skies over Saskatchewan lit up with a stunning display of the northern lights (aurora borealis), creating a mesmerizing spectacle for skywatchers across the province. Initially expected to arrive over the weekend, the dazzling light show was delayed until Monday night, providing an unexpected treat to those who ventured outside.

The auroral display was the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) following a series of strong solar flares released by the sun. As we are currently in a period of solar maximum, the sun's activity has ramped up, leading to more frequent solar flares and geomagnetic storms. The arrival of the CME on Monday night marked the latest in a series of such events, bringing the kind of brilliant light show that many across Saskatchewan were hoping to catch.

Meteorologist Natalie Hassell from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) explained the science behind the phenomenon: "It is because they're magnetic storms where we have solar activity like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Those masses of charged particles make it into our magnetosphere and get activated there."

What made this event particularly memorable was the early start of the auroras, which began dancing in the sky as the sunset. In Saskatchewan, areas with clear skies were treated to vivid ribbons of green, purple, and pink that lit up the night, painting the horizon with an otherworldly glow. 

Reports from local residents and photographers flooded social media, with many capturing breathtaking images of the northern lights arching across the sky. The clear, cool evening provided optimal viewing conditions for the auroras, with minimal cloud cover allowing the lights to shine uninterrupted.

Solar maximum, the period when the sun's activity reaches its peak, is expected to bring more of these geomagnetic storms, making it an exciting time for aurora enthusiasts across Saskatchewan. With the heightened solar activity, residents are likely to see more displays in the coming months, especially as clear fall and winter nights offer prime conditions for viewing.

For now, the awe-inspiring show of October 7th will be remembered as one of the most brilliant displays of the year, a reminder of the powerful forces at play in our solar system and the beauty they bring to Earth's skies.