See photos: Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday  Northern lights on full display People in many places around the wo...

See photos: Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday

 Northern lights on full display

People in many places around the world got a rare treat last Friday night. They saw a colorful light show in the sky, called the northern lights! This usually only happens in the far north, but a powerful storm from the sun made it visible much farther south, all the way down to Florida.

The sun is like a giant ball of fire, and sometimes it throws out bursts of energy. This week, the sun had a very strong burst, and particles from that burst reached Earth's atmosphere on Friday. This caused the amazing light show. 

An organization called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studies the weather and space. They knew a big storm was coming from the sun, and they issued a warning. This was the first time in 19 years that they had to give such a strong warning!

The sun goes through cycles, and right now it's at a peak in its 11-year cycle. This means the conditions were just right for the particles from the sun to create a spectacular light show. People in many parts of North America and Europe were able to see it, even in places where it normally never appears.

One person who saw the lights was Mike Theiss, who lives in Florida. He takes pictures of extreme weather events, and he couldn't believe his eyes! He had been following the news about the solar storm, but he thought he wouldn't be able to see the northern lights from where he lived. Then, he started seeing pictures on social media from people in nearby states who had spotted the lights.

He decided to take a chance and stepped outside. Even though the lights were faint, he could see a reddish glow in the sky with his own eyes. "I was looking at the northern lights," he said. "I still can't believe it!"

People all over the US and Europe were able to capture amazing pictures of this rare event. 

   

Northern Lights

Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday

Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday