Albany school teacher Dan Bush of Missouri Skies posted these aurora photos from Oct 4.
AI Summary of the Event:
The aurora activity on October 4, 2026, was driven by fast-moving solar wind streams flowing from a coronal hole on the sun. [1, 2]
Key Details
- Storm Level: Triggered up to a G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm condition. [1, 2]
- Visibility Areas: Visible across portions of the northern tier of the U.S. (including northern/upper Midwest and northern border states) and parts of Canada, such as Alberta. [1, 2, 3]
- Visual Characteristics: Observers reported low-horizon glows, diffuse auroras, arcs, and short pillars. In Finnish Lapland, a full auroral substorm featured rare pulsating auroras, with large patches of diffuse light repeatedly brightening and fading. [1, 2]
- Camera Detection: Faint colors or structures were often easier to capture using long-exposure smartphone camera settings than with the naked eye. [1, 2]