Northern Lights Over Knoxville: What You Saw on Nov. 11 — Could They Return on Nov. 12?

Northern Lights Danced Across Knoxville on Nov. 11

If you noticed red and green bands lighting the sky on the night of Nov. 11, you weren’t imagining it. A vivid display of the aurora borealis — commonly called the northern lights — was visible across more than 21 U.S. states, including sightings reported as far south as Florida.

Why the lights were visible so far south

The colorful skies are caused by interactions between charged particles from the Sun and Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, the National Weather Service explains. On Nov. 11, heightened geomagnetic activity allowed the aurora to be seen much farther from the poles than usual, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

Will the aurora return on Nov. 12?

There is another chance to see the lights on the night of Nov. 12, although the odds for Tennessee are lower than they were on Nov. 11. NOAA measured current conditions at G3 — a strong geomagnetic storm — and warns that G4, classified as severe, remains possible. If geomagnetic activity reaches G4, colorful auroras would be more likely at southerly latitudes. Forecasters at AccuWeather also say Tennessee has a “good” chance of another display if conditions continue as predicted.

What causes auroras?

Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. These particles often come from coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona — or from high-speed solar wind streams that originate in coronal holes. When particles strike atmospheric atoms and molecules, excess energy is released as visible light, producing the red, green and sometimes purple bands people see in the sky.

Tips for viewing the northern lights

• Find darkness: Go to a location away from city lights for the best contrast.
• Gain elevation if possible: A higher vantage point gives a clearer, less obstructed view toward the north.
• Face north: Auroras are most often visible toward the northern horizon at mid-latitudes.
• Time it right: The most active hours are usually within an hour or two of local midnight (roughly 10 PM–2 AM). When geomagnetic activity is stronger, viewing windows can expand into earlier evening and later morning.
• Be patient: Displays can appear, fade and reappear over minutes to hours.

Share your photos

If you photographed the aurora, please consider submitting your images for possible inclusion in local galleries. Fill out the submission form linked in the original Knoxville News Sentinel story, or email photos to allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com with the subject line "Northern Lights photos".

Reporter: Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com

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