RIBBONS OF NEON colored lights bathed Bay Area skies in shades of pink, purple and blue on Friday night in a rare appearance of the aurora borealis or Northern Lights.

A common occurrence near the northern polar region but seldom visible in lower latitudes of the Earth’s surface, the bands of color are the result of a powerful solar storm brewing 93 million miles out in space.

The aurora borealis or Northern Lights appears through the trees from the Big Break Regional Trail in Oakley around 11 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Glenn Gehlke/Local News Matters)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a G5 coronal mass ejection on the sun’s surface — think the space equivalent of Category 5 hurricane — will bombard the Earth with such intensity that the aurora will be visible throughout most of the United States. Fortunately for us humans, our atmosphere should protect the planet from any devastating effects, although experts say the solar storm could potentially impact communications and other electronic equipment.

In case you missed it, you’ll likely have another chance to see the Northern Lights on Saturday night from around 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., depending on weather conditions. The lights are visible to the naked eye, although viewing is best away from urban light pollution.

More information about the aurora borealis is available from NOAA, which includes a forecast of the storm’s intensity.

The sky comes alive in shades of pink and purple over the Vintage Parkway neighborhood in Oakley on Friday, May 10, 2024. Rarely seen this far south, the aurora borealis or Northern Lights will be visible in the Bay Area through Saturday night. Image shot on an iPhone 15 with 5 second exposure. (Glenn Gehlke/Local News Matters)