What are the northern lights? Explaining the phenomenon across the sky

CINCINNATI —

A strong solar storm headed toward Earth lit up the skies across the northern half of the country on Tuesday night.

Photos have poured in from the Greater Cincinnati, showing the magnificent view of the northern lights. Advertisement

Click here to check out a full gallery of photos. Brian Massey Slideshow 18 photos

According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a coronal mass ejection has resulted in a strong geomagnetic storm, meaning auroras are visible over skies in some parts of the country, maybe as far south as Alabama to northern California.

So, what are the northern lights and why do they appear?

Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s