Thanks to a massive solar storm, the Northern Lights made a rare appearance over the United States October 25th, turning the sky an eerie pink and green in Michigan and much of the Southeastern U.S. — including the Washington area.  The Northern Lights are caused by charged solar particles colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere near the North Pole.

The Aurora Borealis is entering a new cycle of higher activity, offering the best viewing in 10 years in Michigan, said astronomer Dick Cookman, a retired professor of astronomy, geology and environmental science at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.

The strongest solar flare in four years erupted about 6 weeks ago, Cookman said. If not for the cloud cover that obscured the drama, it would have led to light displays visible as far south as Upper Iowa, South-Central Wisconsin and mid-Michigan. The best part, he noted, is that the 7- to 11-year cycle is just beginning, offering great northern lights viewing possibilities likely to peak in 2012 or 2013.

Visit http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01oct11.htm for spectacular photos of the October 25th lights.

Photo: Shawn Malone/Lake Superior Photo/Michigan