Community Corner

Northern Lights May Be Visible in Connecticut

A strong solar flare could send this stunning natural phenomenon south into our skies Jan. 9 and Jan. 10.

By Gary Jeanfaivre

Normally you'd have to travel far north to see the natural phenomenon known as aurora borealis. But on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10, Connecticut residents may have a chance to witness the stunning spectacular that is the Northern Lights.

"The effect we see and describe as The Northern Lights is caused by the Coronal Cloud bombarding the Earth's atmosphere with it's charged particles ramming into gaseous particles present in our atmosphere," Jay Dobensky writes in an article on the website, wxedge.com. "Those collisions produce the different colors we see based on the type of particle, the most common being oxygen, which produces that classic greenish color."

Some, including Dobesnky, describe the Northern Lights as one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see in your life. So don't forget to check out the sky tonight and look to the north.


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