Residents from all around Vacaville, Fairfield and beyond had the experience of seeing the northern lights on May 10th, 2024. They will return on May 11th and are a rare sight in northern California.

A purple sky with northern lights over solano county.

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a natural phenomenon caused by interactions between the Earth’s magnetic field and charged particles from the sun. They are not normally visible at northern California’s latitudes, but we’re seeing them because of a solar storm.

The Vacaville Police Department posted a picture of a patrol car with the purple and green Aurora Borealis in the background.

The particles collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, typically above 80 kilometers in altitude. The energy released during these collisions emits light, which is visible as colorful displays in the sky.

Social media was filled with images taken from Vacaville and other areas of Solano County. They show just how visible and beautiful the Northern Lights were.

Here are some photos of the Northern Lights taken over Fairfield, CA.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the best times to see the Northern Lights tonight are between 10 PM and 2 AM.