Photos show Northern Lights from the Pittsburgh area

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (KDKA) – The Northern Lights have been spotted again in the Pittsburgh area!

The colorful Northern Lights were seen in Butler by Julie Krenitsky late Monday evening, just after 10 p.m.

Marie Brosi shared a photo with KDKA First Alert meteorologist Ray Petelin taken near Raccoon Creek State Park.

Jan Copeland McElhinny captured some bright green auroras in Evans City and shared the photo with KDKA First Alert meteorologist Ray Petelin.

The Northern Lights were also seen by Ed Thompson at around 2am in Whitehall

Bright pink and green auroras were also captured in Indiana County.

The Northern Lights have graced the Pittsburgh area a few times this year.

Both the Aurora Borealis and the Perseid meteor shower were visible one night in August and created a dazzling celestial spectacle. Green, purple, red and pink hues were also visible in the skies over western Pennsylvania already in May.

What causes the Northern Lights?

When a geomagnetic storm occurs, the solar wind is sent to Earth. Charged protons and electrons follow the Earth's magnetic field and penetrate the Earth where the magnetic fields are weakest: at the poles. The electrons smash into all the different molecules that make up our atmosphere, creating a dazzling display of colors in the sky.

It is rare for the Northern Lights to be seen so clearly this far south. Most of the time we're lucky if it happens even once a year.