The northern lights dazzled Idaho skygazers. See photos from Boise and beyond
In Boise and throughout the state, Idahoans pursued dark overnight skies Friday into Saturday for the opportunity to spot a phenomenon that hasn’t presented itself in nearly two decades.
The aurora borealis visited the state’s southern reaches starting around 8 p.m. Friday, with the strongest solar storm activity lasting through 8 a.m. Saturday. The sun didn’t set in Boise until almost 9 p.m., and then the colors of the northern lights began to emerge and dance above the ridgelines.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Friday night, as the Idaho Statesman previously reported. It was the first time NOAA had done so since January 2005.
As NASA reports, the skyward anomaly is caused by solar storm particles colliding with the Earth’s upper atmosphere, with the planet’s magnetic field sending the particles north and south. The interaction creates an illuminated exhibit usually only seen near the North and South poles.
From the hill above Horseshoe Bend, the magentas and neon greens came to life and dazzled those who stayed up past their usual bedtimes.
Similarly unique sights could be found in other areas of the Treasure Valley with lower light pollution, including up Bogus Basin Road in Boise County.
Here are some other views of the northern lights from elsewhere around Idaho.
Back in the Treasure Valley, Idaho Statesman photographer Sarah Miller headed to near Lucky Peak to take in the colorful display.
Meanwhile, Idaho Statesman visuals editor Darin Oswald trekked up to Shafer Butte in the Boise National Forest and produced this selfie and dubbed the stunning image “Aurora Idahoalis.”
And, as luck would have it, a second chance to catch the northern lights in Idaho is predicted for Saturday — starting around nightfall and into Sunday. Boiseans won’t even have to travel north toward Riggins, as was initially predicted to get another shot.
This story was originally published May 11, 2024 at 11:16 AM.
