She Was Shocked to See THIS From Her Arizona Backyard

Since grade school, I dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, with my own eyes.

I imagined an expedition to the wilds of Alaska or Iceland, where I'd view the spectacular sky show against a snowy backdrop. Just my team of sled dogs and me - gazing up at the sky while eating some smoked salmon and waiting for the morning Iditarod to begin.

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Who am I kidding? I've lived in Arizona for so long that I imagine I'm going to expire if the temperature drops below 40 degrees; there's no way I'm going to Alaska. However, my dream of seeing the Northern Lights is coming true, all thanks to a solar maximum.

What Causes the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis?

So, why is the Aurora Borealis visible in Arizona now?

It all comes down to our sun and its activity. Our nearest star is currently in the "solar maximum," which happens about every 11 years. It's when the sun's magnetic field flips and becomes super unstable.

READ: Discover the Amazing Biodiversity of Arizona’s Sky Islands

The sun's instability causes a bunch of solar flares and coronal mass ejections or CMEs, which are gigantic bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields. When these "sun particles" reach the Earth, they interact with our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. We get to see and enjoy some mesmerizing light shows.

Why Are the Northern Lights Visible in Arizona?

We expect to see them in Alaska, but why are they suddenly visible so far south?

Across Arizona, we're seeing red auroras. This phenomenon happens at higher altitudes, which is why we can see it in some areas across the state.

Aurorae are electrons colliding with atmospheric molecules. I never thought I'd see this stunning natural phenomenon in the desert in the comfort of my flip-flops! It's a good thing, too. I have no idea what to feed a dog mushing team.

READ: 3 Crazy Things In the Arizona Skies Right Now

The Solar Flares and Technology in Arizona

The light show is great, but there are some downsides to this solar event. All the solar energy hitting our planet can affect our technology.

Intense solar storms have been known to disrupt radio communications, damage satellites, and even knock out power systems. If you'd like to see the Aurora Borealis, check out the NOAA website for the best time and place to view from Arizona.

Wait until the sun has completely set. Then, use your cell phone or camera to take photos of the sky.

I'm still in awe. I never thought I'd see the "Northern Lights" from my Arizona backyard. Luckily, I don't have to feed the dog-sled team. My two labrador retrievers and I can watch the solar flares from the comfort of our Arizona backyard!

Sources: 12News | EurekAlert | AZ Central | Wikipedia | Space.com | Guide to Iceland | NOAA