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Video Captures Northern Lights Above Mt. Washington

Public/Screenshot/Facebook — User: Mount Washington Observatory

Kayla Ivan Contributor
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The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, were visible from the highest peak in New England early Wednesday, according to a clip of the moment.

The natural phenomenon was captured in a video at the summit of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. The Mt. Washington Observatory later shared the video on Facebook and Twitter. (RELATED: Giant Solar Storm To Slam Into Earth, Potentially Causing Disruptions)

Scientists at the observatory said the lights were visible between 1:00 and 4:30 a.m. There were also eyewitness reports from northern Maine and northern Vermont spotting the lights, WMUR 9 reported, citing the observatory.

Wednesday’s sighting is the second time the aurora borealis have been spotted from Mt. Washington since July 2022, according to B98.5 FM. The video from the observatory shows a 30-minute time-lapse taken from the summit while the northern lights were at their peak visibility.

The northern lights occur when the sun’s solar energy strikes the Earth’s magnetic field, causing the colorful natural sight, according to CBS Boston.

The observatory on top of Mt. Washington will be holding a virtual lesson April 11 as part of its Science in the Mountains program on the aurora borealis and other wonders seen from the summit. The lesson is one of several free online programs offered at the observatory, according to B98.5 FM.