Rare solar storm wows star gazers across America: 'So awesome!'

A Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME, is responsible for the geomagnetic storms

Historic geomagnetic storms made for a beautiful display in night skies across America on Friday night, with the aurora visible as far south as Florida.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, confirmed that the geomagnetic storms hit an "extreme" level 5 condition Friday. NOAA also reported that there is no sign of these historic storm conditions slowing down until Sunday.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS OKLAHOMA, SOUTHERN KANSAS AT RISK OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS

FOX Weather reported that the cause behind these storms is "a massive sunspot the width of 17 Earths." The scientific term to describe the phenomenon is known as a Coronal Mass Ejection or a CME. 

A birds' eye view of the Aurora Borealis above South Carolina from FOX Weather Storm Tracker Mark Sudduth. (Mark Sudduth via Fox Weather)

Viewers from across the nation from Washington to Missouri enjoyed the aurora display Friday. One social media user wrote, "I have ALWAYS wanted to go and see the northern lights! This is so awesome!"

A photo of clouds parting before the Northern Lights from the NWS office in Caribou, Maine. (NWS via Fox Weather)

Photos from all over America shared with Fox News Digital showed the historic meteorological event, from Maine to Southern California.

The Aurora Borealis from Mukilteo, Washington state during a geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (Scott Sistek via Fox Weather)

Weather forecasters working from the NWS office outside Birmingham, Alabama saw the Northern Lights as well as the space station. (@NWSBirmingham via Fox Weather)

The Northern Lights were snapped outside Republic, Missouri by Katie Adams Long. (Katie Adams Long )

Gina McMurtrey took this picture of the night skies in Willard, Missouri. (Gina McMurtrey)

Rachel Street took this vivid blue-and-pink Aurora photo in Pierce City, Missouri.(Rachel Street)

This photo of the extreme geomagnetic event on Friday was taken in Waynesville, Missouri by Kayla Goodrich-Danielson. (Kayla Goodrich-Danielson)

Rainey Lathrop took this photo of the geomagnetic storm in Lebanon, Missouri on May 10. (Rainey Lathrop)

Northern Lights from Hastings, Nebraska during a CME on May 10. (NWS Hastings via Fox Weather)

Senior Business Systems Analyst at FOX Anthony Thai spotted the Northern Lights outside the Mojave Desert in California. (Anthony Thai)

Luke Culver of Fort Lauderdale, Florida caught the Aurora Borealis on display Friday, May 10. (Luke Culver via Fox Weather)

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Jasmine is a Production Assistant at Fox News Digital and a military spouse based in New Orleans. Stories can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.