As forecast, the northern lights danced across the sky Thursday night, and many people were able to catch the show.
Following a powerful eruption from the sun, the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center had forecast high geomagnetic activity from Wednesday to Thursday, which would result in northern lights.
While it didn’t manifest on Wednesday, two more eruptions — which were much stronger — slammed into Earth Thursday night.
Vertical #Pano of #NorthernLights exploding over Lake Huron seen from #SaugeenShores, Ontario! // Captured Sept 7, 2017 @stormhour pic.twitter.com/qwu3OgPy4y
Northern lights last night from Fredericton. ? @FredTourism @SeeNewBrunswick pic.twitter.com/VSQsSGt2QR
It’s overhead! Totally naked eye visible! BOC shots at Hecla Island MB @TamithaSkov @LauraDuchesne @NorthLightAlert @TweetAurora pic.twitter.com/VCB9Q5zc6n
A ribbon of of northern lights stretches across the sky near Melville, Saskatchewan. (James Edgar)
The display was seen across Canada, even as far south as southern Ontario. There were reports that they were also seen across parts of the northern U.S.
The northern lights illuminate the sky just west of Conestoga Lake, Ontario. (Laura Duchesne)
Bright green and purple northern lights, or aurora borealis, light up the sky in Alma, Ontario. (Dave Patrick)
People were also able to see it around the world, despite the bright moonlight.
The northern lights take over the sky near the village of Pallas in Lapland, Finland. (Alexander Kuznetsov/All About Lapland/Reuters)
The northern lights seen near the village of Pallas (Muonio region) of Lapland, Finland. (Alexander Kuznetsov/All About Lapland/Reuters)
The sun erupted in an X9.3 solar flare on Thursday, followed by a coronal mass ejection, or CME. The X-class of solar flares are among the most powerful. A second, weaker X-class flare followed.
The particles ejected by the CME then travelled along the solar wind, interacting with Earth’s magnetosphere, producing the beautiful colours.
Northern Lights, Norway pic.twitter.com/ZrMgoKFFVi
WOW! Northern Lights seen last night from South Hero, Vermont. Photo credit: Jeremy Gilchrist. #Aurora #NorthernLights #VTwx pic.twitter.com/BoZT8jYY6t
Inukjuak light show #NorthernLights pic.twitter.com/TeyZy5npW0
The geomagnetic storm subsided for a while on Friday, but then increased sharply again.
If you missed the display, you may get another chance: there is a chance of more northern lights Friday into Saturday.