Northern Lights Seen in Deep South

Time for a new name? The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, were seen as far south this year as Atlanta on Monday night. The solar flares, which illuminate the sky and make it seem almost green, usually go only as far south as Boston or Seattle, but a solar outburst this year caused the light show to be visible in cities such as Memphis, Atlanta, and Oklahoma City. Meteorologist Jim Branda said a storm at the sun’s surface was blown off, and the solar wind scattered it—but don’t get too used it, since the southern light show is visible only once every three or four years and only if the sky is clear.