New Mexico residents were treated to a rare view of the Northern Lights Thursday night after a solar storm hit Earth, sparking electric fields in rock and soil and creating incredible auroras over much of the United States, including the Bluewater Lake area in Cibola and McKinley counties.
The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. In northern regions it is known as aurora borealis or Northern Lights. In southern regions it is called aurora australis or Southern Lights.
The sun is at the peak of its 11-year solar cycle and experts say the colorful auroras may continue to delight skywatchers for months and possibly years. A long-exposure photo taken with a cell phone can reveal the vibrant colors viewers might not be able to see with the naked eye.