The Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, earlier this month caught the attention of Charlottesville residents, according to a recent article in The Hook.
The colorful streaks are the result of solar storms and activity on the surface of the sun, Astronomy Prof. Edward Murphy told The Hook.
The Northern Lights, streaks of red and purple lights in the night sky, typically are visible only in the extreme northern hemisphere.
About once a year, however, the Northern Lights are visible as far south as central Virginia.
The streaks of light in the night sky are caused by charged particles from the sun released in gas as solar flares.
When the charged particles come in contact with the Earth's magnetic field, the result is the light show recently experienced in Charlottesville.
--Compiled by Kathleen Meyers
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