The northern lights are seen in Kelowna on Aug. 11.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Roman Bartos
August 13, 2024 - 6:00 AM
The Northern Lights are shimmering in the Thompson-Okanagan more often this year and some residents are staying up late to take in the shows.
The lights could be seen in clear night skies on Aug. 11, with viewers sharing their stunning captures on social media and sending them to iNFOnews.ca.
While the southern part of the province doesn’t typically get as much aurora activity, this year is a notable one as the sun is nearing its maximum of solar activity — an occurrence that happens roughly every 11 years—and more aurora are expected.
The lights were also strong for a few nights in May of this year.
Coinciding with the light show was the Perseid Meteor shower that reaches its peak on Aug. 12 giving observers a chance to see more than 100 meteors streak across the sky every hour. Known as the biggest meteor shower of the year the Perseids will streak across the sky until the end of the month.
All the colours of the aurora can be seen in skies over Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Kimberly Jonsson
Aurora occurs when charged particles from the sun reach the Earth’s surface at the poles, which ionizes the atmosphere, creating different colours.
READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: Funny wildlife moments in Thompson-Okanagan Part Two
While aurora activity is impossible to predict, viewers can watch for current activity levels through the American Space Weather Prediction Centre.
Viewers will want to find a location away from city lights with a wide open view toward the north. A good camera helps, but most cell phone cameras can capture the lights well.
If you get photos of the night sky you want to share, send them news@infonews.ca.
The aurora borealis glows behind a tree near Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Trudy Niessen
The northern lights shimmer over Kamloops, Aug. 11.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Jennifer Dawn Adams
The northern lights could be seen clearly in Clearwater on Aug. 11.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Chance Breckenridge
The outline of pine trees are set against a lit up backdrop of northern lights in Summerland.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Mariola Wierzbicki
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2024