AURORAS IN THE USA: As predicted, a solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on March 13th, sparking a G1-class geomagnetic storm. Northern Lights spilled across the Canadian border into the USA. MaryBeth Kiczenski sends this picture from Eagle Harbor, Michigan:

https://imgur.com/FvqFeKz

"What a showing last night around 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time," says Kiczenski. "The pinks and greens were visible to the naked eye. I lost my entire train of thought. I cheered. I may have shed a tear, even. I'm shocked I managed to get this in focus with all the excitement! Best I've seen to date."

Auroras were also sighted in Minnesota and Wisconsin. There's nothing special about auroras in the USA, per se. Canadians had an even better show. But auroras touching the "lower 48" are a sign that Solar Cycle 25 is intensifying. Today, it's Minnesota and Michigan; in a few years, perhaps, California and Texas. Stay tuned!

[link to www.spaceweather.com (secure)]