Science

milestogo

(22,784 posts) Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:34 PM Jan 22

Pilot captures historic northern lights show from 37,000 feet (photos)

The photos were taken during a severe G4 geomagnetic storm, one of the strongest in years.

See more: https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/the-most-incredible-display-of-aurora-ive-ever-seen-in-my-20-years-of-flying-pilot-captures-historic-northern-lights-show-from-37-000-feet-photos

19 replies

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Pilot captures historic northern lights show from 37,000 feet (photos) (Original Post) milestogo Jan 22 OP

Since I was a child I have wanted to see the aurora borealis. I saw a big red chunk here in NM Clouds Passing Jan 22 #1

Glad you got to see it, Clouds! SheltieLover Jan 22 #2

But I want to see it in Sweden or Alaska where it's giant and colorful Clouds Passing Jan 22 #3

Awwww... SheltieLover Jan 22 #8

I wish. Sorry you can hardly see stars. Clouds Passing Jan 23 #12

Awwww ty, Clouds! SheltieLover Jan 23 #14

YW Sheltie Clouds Passing Jan 23 #15

💞 SheltieLover Jan 23 #16

My sister in Asheville NC & her family Cha Jan 22 #9

Thanks Cha 🤗 Clouds Passing Jan 23 #13

It's always a crapshoot. Hard to plan ahead central scrutinizer Jan 23 #17

Actually solar weather can be predicted 2-3 days from n advance airplaneman Jan 23 #18

"" AllaN01Bear Jan 22 #4

WOW!!!!!! calimary Jan 22 #5

That's amazing MustLoveBeagles Jan 22 #6

If I were the pilot on that plane, I would think that I had reached heaven. milestogo Jan 22 #7

Thanks for sharing. I witnessed marvelous light show in the early 70s while wilderness canoeing in northern Ontario. Martin68 Jan 22 #10

Absolutely stunning - thanks for posting!! Talitha Jan 22 #11

Mother Earth is truly beautiful. riversedge Jan 26 #19

Clouds Passing

(7,386 posts)

1. Since I was a child I have wanted to see the aurora borealis. I saw a big red chunk here in NM

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 08:13 PM

Jan 22

a couple months ago

SheltieLover

(78,074 posts)

2. Glad you got to see it, Clouds!

Reply to Clouds Passing (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 08:15 PM

Jan 22

Clouds Passing

(7,386 posts)

3. But I want to see it in Sweden or Alaska where it's giant and colorful

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:06 PM

Jan 22

Just being Wendy Whiner rn

SheltieLover

(78,074 posts)

8. Awwww...

Reply to Clouds Passing (Reply #3)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:47 PM

Jan 22

Plan a trip?

What strikes me about these is how connected to everything one viewing it must feel.

Here in swampy memphis region, I rarely see stars - too swampy / hazy / humid. Hell on earth.

Clouds Passing

(7,386 posts)

12. I wish. Sorry you can hardly see stars.

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #8)

Fri Jan 23, 2026, 09:17 AM

Jan 23

Here’s some for you ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SheltieLover

(78,074 posts)

14. Awwww ty, Clouds!

Reply to Clouds Passing (Reply #12)

Fri Jan 23, 2026, 09:56 AM

Jan 23

Clouds Passing

(7,386 posts)

15. YW Sheltie

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #14)

Fri Jan 23, 2026, 09:58 AM

Jan 23

SheltieLover

(78,074 posts)

16. 💞

Reply to Clouds Passing (Reply #15)

Fri Jan 23, 2026, 10:01 AM

Jan 23

Cha

(317,608 posts)

9. My sister in Asheville NC & her family

Reply to Clouds Passing (Reply #3)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 10:09 PM

Jan 22

went to Iceland last year and saw the Northern Lights.

Beautiful Pics and they got to submerge in the Thermal Hot Springs.

I enjoyed that so much vicariously!

Hope you get to go where you want someday!

Clouds Passing

(7,386 posts)

13. Thanks Cha 🤗

Reply to Cha (Reply #9)

Fri Jan 23, 2026, 09:19 AM

Jan 23

central scrutinizer

(12,650 posts)

17. It's always a crapshoot. Hard to plan ahead

Reply to Clouds Passing (Reply #3)

Fri Jan 23, 2026, 02:11 PM

Jan 23

Depends on local weather and solar weather. The solar weather can only be predicted a few hours in advance. The KP index is your tool

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/planetary-k-index

airplaneman

(1,381 posts)

18. Actually solar weather can be predicted 2-3 days from n advance

Reply to central scrutinizer (Reply #17)

Fri Jan 23, 2026, 04:42 PM

Jan 23

You should check out the space weather woman Tamitha Skov. Her YouTube channel is pretty good
-Airplane

AllaN01Bear

(28,823 posts)

4. ""

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:14 PM

Jan 22

calimary

(89,270 posts)

5. WOW!!!!!!

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:25 PM

Jan 22

Absolutely mind-bending!!!

THANKS for finding and then sharing these, milestogo! And extra thanks to the photographer, Matt Melnyk, for some SPECTACULAR photos!

MustLoveBeagles

(15,099 posts)

6. That's amazing

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:26 PM

Jan 22

I love the colors.

milestogo

(22,784 posts)

7. If I were the pilot on that plane, I would think that I had reached heaven.

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:29 PM

Jan 22

Martin68

(27,276 posts)

10. Thanks for sharing. I witnessed marvelous light show in the early 70s while wilderness canoeing in northern Ontario.

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 10:16 PM

Jan 22

I paddled out into the middle of a lake with two friends and lay down in the bottom of the canoe to watch the incredible display of light and color. Got up and walked out our tent to pee late in the night to see a completely different spectacle. I think the thing that stuck with me was the incredible silence that accompanied the fireworks above.

Talitha

(7,749 posts)

11. Absolutely stunning - thanks for posting!!

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 10:28 PM

Jan 22

riversedge

(79,973 posts)

19. Mother Earth is truly beautiful.

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Mon Jan 26, 2026, 09:41 AM

Jan 26

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