Northern Lights Viewers in Alberta Are Treated to a Stunning Northern Lights Show
Parts of north-central Alberta were awash in hues of purple, pink, turquoise and green Monday evening, in a magnificent display of the Northern Lights.
The University of Alberta’s AuroraWatch group noted very high geomagnetic activity in the Edmonton area between 9 p.m. and midnight MST.
The group said there was a greater than 70 percent chance of aurora appearing at that time.
The University of Alberta’s Aurora Watch tracks geomagnetic activity in the Edmonton area on September 18, 2023.
Courtesy: Aurora Watch
Observers were not disappointed.
Northern lights have been reported near Fort Saskatchewan, Drayton Valley, St. Albert and Sturgeon County.
Northern Lights observed in Sturgeon County, Alberta on Monday, September 19, 2023.
Courtesy of Rhonda Mayers
AuroraWatch provides real-time monitoring of geomagnetic activity in the Edmonton area and offers a free email alert service when aurora sightings are likely.
The group also offers tips for better observing the Northern Lights:
- look north after dark
- just around midnight or before, it’s prime
- get out of the city to escape light pollution
Northern Lights seen in Spirit River, Alberta on Monday, September 19, 2023.
Courtesy of Tonya Davison
The lights are created by charged particles that emanate from the sun, travel through space, and strike the Earth’s atmosphere.
PKBNEWS meteorologist Ross Hull said a coronal hole had developed in the sun. It’s a cooler, less dense region that can allow solar winds to escape more easily to Earth.
“As they move toward Earth, solar winds interact with our geomagnetic field (which protects our planet from such events) and these geomagnetic events have different levels of intensity,” Hull said.
The lights move because charged particles loop Earth’s magnetic shield.
Northern lights observed in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy of Victoria Lang
Northern lights observed in Sturgeon County, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy of Rhonda Klaszus
Northern lights observed in St. Albert, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy of Myranda Clapp
Northern lights observed east of Edmonton, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy: Miles Maldaner
Northern lights observed east of Edmonton, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy: Miles Maldaner
Northern lights observed in Hiller Reservoir, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy: Matt Melnyk
Northern lights observed in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy of Janice Malowany
Northern lights observed in Marlboro, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy of Madison Rhodes
Northern lights observed in Hiller Reservoir, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy: Matt Melnyk
Northern lights observed in Grande Cache, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy: Haleigh Mines
Northern lights observed in Lone Pine, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy of Brogan Bridgeman
Northern lights observed in St. Albert, Alberta, Monday evening.
Courtesy: Angela Paik
— with files from Karen Bartko, PKBNEWS
© 2023 PKBNEWS, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
