"Stunning Northern Lights Illuminate Skies Across United States and Europe"

The skies over North America, Europe, and parts of Australia were illuminated with vibrant displays of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, on Sunday evening and night. This spectacle was caused by a pair of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun, which launched solar plasma and energy towards Earth. The CMEs resulted in a geomagnetic storm, reaching the G3 or "strong" tier, and produced stunning colors and movements in the sky. Some observers also witnessed a phenomenon called STEVE, a slender purple-and-white arc. With the solar cycle expected to peak in 2024, more opportunities to view the northern lights are likely in the coming year.