An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday.
News4’s Mark Segraves photographed a colorful sky over the Chesapeake Bay.
In Davis, West Virginia, about 160 miles west of D.C., photos shared with News4 show the sky lit up with purple and green streaks.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
Another photographer sent colorful photos of the sky at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, about 215 miles southwest of D.C.
What to know about seeing the northern lights in DC, Maryland and Virginia
So when could we catch a glimpse of the northern lights closer to the D.C. metropolitan area?
Meteorologist Ryan Miller said there’s a chance after midnight late Saturday and early Sunday.
“There’s a chance this evening and overnight we could once again see some of those northern lights, after that rain and cloud activity gets out of here. Check out the sky to the north,” Miller said.
Why your phone may capture great photos of the northern lights
The best aurora views may come from phone cameras, which are better at capturing light than the naked eye, said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.
Snap a picture of the sky and “there might be actually a nice little treat there for you,” said Mike Bettwy, operations chief for the prediction center.
Verizon shared these tips for taking photos of the northern lights with your phone:
- “Make sure you have the latest and greatest smartphone for the best resolution (ones with optical telephoto zoom will be best)
- Use a tripod to stabilize your images
- Turn off the flash – nature’s colorful lights are more than enough!
- Opt for your smartphone’s primary camera, as super-wide lenses often don’t shoot with comparable resolutions
- Lengthen your camera’s exposure time to capture more dramatic images of the sky
- If you have these options on your smartphone: Use your smartphone’s ‘night mode’ to adapt to the night sky; and/or use RAW mode to capture a more natural image.”
Go here to learn more about the northern lights and NOAA’s rare severe geomagnetic storm warning.
Want to know what's up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
