Aurora Borealis
© John David McKinnonAurora Borealis taken on May 12, 2021 @ The Sandhill Crane Marsh, Alberta, Canada.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field during the early hours of May 12th, sparking the strongest geomagnetic storm of young Solar Cycle 25. "Very bright and active waves of aurora danced with morning twilight," reports John David McKinnon of Alberta, Canada, who photographed the display from Sandhill Crane Marsh.

The G3-class disturbance lasted 6 full hours. Only one thing stopped sky watchers in Europe and many US states from seeing the auroras: The sun came up. Daylight blotted out an otherwise memorable display.

The storm is subsiding now. Minor G1-class storms are possible on May 13th as Earth exits the CME's wake.