Dazzling Aurora Borealis Light Up The Skies As A Major Solar Storm Hits Earth

In a rare occurrence, the aurora borealis — also known as the northern lights — lit up the skies across many parts of the Northern Hemisphere Tuesday as a result of a major solar storm.

On Tuesday night, the severe geomagnetic storm was just one notch below the highest category for a solar storm, and the northern lights were seen much further from the poles than usual, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.

The beautiful lights generated by the storm were enjoyed by photographers across the northern U.S., Canada and Europe. Here are a few of the highlights: