Why we see the northern lights and why cameras see them better

GRAND RAPIDS — The awe-inspiring Northern lights displays that captivated people across the United States this past weekend originate a long way from Earth's atmosphere.

KAXE contributor Bob "Tornado Bob" Conzemius is a meteorologist and aurora borealis enthusiast. He joined the KAXE Morning Show on Tuesday, May 14, to explain the science behind the lights. And it all starts with the sun — a giant fusion reactor, Bob said.

“[The sun is] fusing hydrogen into helium and in the process, it’s very hot in its surface,” Bob said. “The sun has what we call plasma, and the plasma is highly radiated.”

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Northern lights are brilliant May 10, 2024, over Marine on St. Croix in Minnesota.

Charlie Mitchell / KAXE

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Northern lights over the KAXE tower near Coleraine on May 10, 2024.

Steve Neu / KAXE

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A view from the boat of the northern lights on Pokegama Lake near Grand Rapids on May 10, 2024.

Maria Hileman / KAXE

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Dramatic views of northern lights from Blackduck Lake on May 10, 2024.

contributed / Karl Bleser via KAXE / KBXE Season Watch

The gaseous material leaves the sun's surface, and then various types of solar wind, traveling at 200 miles per second, become a highly ionized gas. When that gas reaches the earth, northern lights occur — the result of highly charged particles that become hooked into our magnetic field.

Depending on the particle, different colors might appear in the aurora. The proliferation of cellphone cameras capable of capturing vivid color may be confusing some people who expect to see in the sky what they see in photos.

"Eyes don’t have the color sensitivity at that light intensity," Bob said. Listen to the full conversation above to hear more.

See Bob’s aurora borealis photos here. Did you see the northern lights? Tell us about it!