The most breath-taking auroral display of the season occurred on March 16-17, 2013 - it became an all-night event at the Arctic Circle in Alaska and likely the most memorable Northern Light show of the entire Solar Cycle thus far (Cycle 24).
What caused these magnificent Northern Lights?
Sunspot region 1692 was the source of a significant long duration M1.1 solar flare occurring at 06:58 UTC on March 15, 2013 - associated with a large full halo coronal mass ejection (CME). The solar storm reached the Earth near 10:00 PM Alaskan time on March 16 (06:00 UTC on March 17) and the CME arrival triggered a 12 hour-long geomagnetic storm producing colorful Northern Lights visible as far South as the Northern tier of the United States.
Canon 5D MKII with EF 50mm f/1.2L and EF 24mm f/1.4L II lenses
Five auroral curtains are closing in from the North and will soon sweep over the Arctic Circle in Alaska - March 16, 2013 at 11:16 PM Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Northern Lights at the Arctic Circle in Alaska on March 16, 2013 - 11:14 PM Canon 5D MKII with EF EF 50mm f/1.2L
Northern Lights with Pleiades and constellation Perseus at 11:16 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Colorful Northern Lights at the Arctic Circle in Alaska at 11:17 PM on March 16, 2013. Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
The Northern Lights at the Arctic Circle in Alaska at 11:18 PM on March 16, 2013. Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Northern Lights with Moon, Jupiter, Pleiades and constellations Taurus, Perseus and Cassiopeia at 11:23 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Northern Lights with Moon and Jupiter in constellation Taurus at 11:30 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Northern Lights with Moon, Jupiter and Pleidades in constellation Taurus at 11:33 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Bright and colorful corona at 11:34 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Bright and colorful overhead curtain at 11:36 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Constellations: Ursa Major (Big Dipper), Lynx and Gemini (with Pollux and Castor) Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Colorful corona at 11:41 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Constellations: Ursa Major (Big Dipper), Leo Minor and Lynx Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Bright and colorful corona and Ursa Major (Big Dipper) at 11:48 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Bright and colorful corona at 11:48 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska Constellations: Ursa Major (Big Dipper), Leo Minor and Lynx Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Bright and colorful corona at 11:48 PM on March 16, 2013 - Arctic Circle, Alaska
Constellations: Ursa Major (Big Dipper), Leo Minor and Lynx
Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II