COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – During a rare geomagnetic storm, numerous central Ohioans got to view a beautiful celestial show: the northern lights. 

The colorful auroras are courtesy of a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun. When CMEs reach Earth’s magnetic field, they spark a big interaction known as a geomagnetic storm.

In the video below, watch NBC4 meteorologist Ben Gelber explain what caused Friday’s display.

According to NASA, CMEs create currents in Earth’s magnetic fields that send particles to the North and South Poles. When those particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen, they can create auroras.

Viewers sent the following photos of the celestial event to NBC4:

  • Drone photo of northern lights on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Delaware County. (photo courtesy/James Gilsdorf)
    Drone photo of northern lights on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Delaware County. (photo courtesy/James Gilsdorf)
  • View of the northern lights in Sunbury (Photo courtesy/Hunter Evans).
  • View of the northern lights from New Albany (Photo courtesy/Kyle Dias).
  • View of the northern lights from Columbus.
  • View of the northern lights from Columbus.
  • View of the northern lights from Marysville (Photo Courtesy/Lori Lawson).
  • View of the northern lights in Logan (Photo Courtesy/Michelle Bumgardner).
  • View of the northern lights in Crooksville (Photo Courtesy/Travis Keylor).
  • View of the northern lights in Crooksville (Photo Courtesy/Travis Keylor).
  • View of the northern lights from New Albany (Photo courtesy/Kyle Dias).
  • View of the northern lights from Columbus (Photo courtesy/Michael Kovalchik).
  • View of the northern lights from Granville (Photo courtesy/Gary Babaryk).
  • View of the northern lights from Columbus (Photo courtesy/Michael Kovalchik).
  • View of the northern lights from Columbus (Photo courtesy/Michael Kovalchik).
  • View of the northern lights from Mount Vernon (Photo courtesy/Randi Hudson).
  • View of the northern lights from Mount Vernon (Photo courtesy/Randi Hudson).
  • View of the northern lights from Mount Vernon (Photo courtesy/Randi Hudson).
  • View of the northern lights from Mount Vernon (Photo courtesy/Randi Hudson).
  • View of the northern lights from Mount Vernon (Photo courtesy/Randi Hudson).
  • View of the northern lights from Mount Vernon (Photo courtesy/Randi Hudson).
  • View of the northern lights from Mount Vernon (Photo courtesy/Randi Hudson).
  • View of the northern lights from Concor Township, Delaware County (Photo courtesy/Paul Bingle).
  • View of the northern lights from Concor Township, Delaware County (Photo courtesy/Paul Bingle).
  • View of the northern lights from Columbus (Photo courtesy/Cooper Comyns).
  • View of the northern lights from Greenfield (Photo courtesy/Brenda Miller-Riley).
  • View of the northern lights from Greenfield (Photo courtesy/Brenda Miller-Riley).
  • View of the northern lights from Greenfield (Photo courtesy/Brenda Miller-Riley).
  • View of the northern lights from Marysville (Photo courtesy/Heather Krasovic).
  • View of the northern lights from Marysville (Photo courtesy/Jillian Magnuson).
  • View of the northern lights from Marysville (Photo courtesy/Jillian Magnuson).
  • View of the northern lights from Marysville (Photo courtesy/Jillian Magnuson).
  • View of the northern lights from Marysville (Photo courtesy/Jillian Magnuson).
  • View of the northern lights from Hebron (Photo courtesy/Beth Vipperman).
  • View of the northern lights from Marengo (Photo courtesy/Chris Druzbanski).
  • View of the northern lights from Pataskala (Photo courtesy/Sherry Hannah).
  • View of the northern lights from Blacklick (Photo courtesy/Deborah Reiff).
  • View of the northern lights from Rushville (Photo courtesy/Matthew Schweitzer).
  • Northern lights in Delaware, Ohio (Photo courtesy/Mathias Russell)
    Northern lights in Delaware, Ohio (Photo courtesy/Mathias Russell)