The Texas skies were aglow with a spectacle typically reserved for higher latitudes as the aurora borealis made a rare appearance in Central Texas Thursday night. Triggered by a G4 geomagnetic storm, the northern lights danced overhead, prompting residents to turn their gazes northward after dark for a chance to witness the phenomenon. CBS Austin reported the sighting, along with viewer-submitted photographs from as far afield as Georgetown, Bastrop, and Kyle.
Despite the strong geomagnetic storm producing good viewing conditions primarily further north in the United States, some Central Texans got a glimpse of the northern lights through their camera lenses. KVUE noted that photographing the night sky with longer exposure settings may help in "freeze" the movement of the aurora, allowing those in Austin to see the lights, which were visible low on the horizon for those who missed the naked-eye view.
According to a statement from CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco, residents should "look to the north after dark," marking this as the second chance this year for Central Texans to observe the northern lights. The display was also noticed by the Leander Fire Department and the Texas Division of Emergency Management personnel, who were deployed on hurricane relief in North Carolina.
