Phenomena: Auroras

Satellite: NOAA-20, NOAA-21, S-NPP

Product: Day/Night Band

Instrument: VIIRS

Timespan: May 11, 2024 03:49 UTC – May 11, 2024 12:19 UTC

NOAA’s JPSS Program satellites captured imagery of the stunning auroras that were visible in locations across the globe on May 11, 2024. Multiple coronal mass ejections from the sun sparked an extreme geomagnetic storm around the Earth last week, creating stunning auroras, even in places where the northern lights are rarely seen. The Southern Hemisphere also reported remarkable auroras from the storm.

View more imagery of the auroras.

This combined image was captured by NOAA’s JPSS satellites as they passed over North America. 

JPSS is the Nation’s advanced series of polar-orbiting environmental satellites and is made up of the Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21 satellites. JPSS represents significant technological and scientific advancements in observations used for severe weather prediction and environmental monitoring. These data are critical to the timeliness and accuracy of forecasts three to seven days in advance of a severe weather event. JPSS is a collaborative effort between NOAA and NASA.