An airline pilot, Matt Melnyk, captured breathtaking photos of the northern lights while flying at 36,000 feet during a transatlantic flight, providing a unique perspective of a rare celestial event.
A Rare Alignment of Conditions
On November 12th, Melnyk photographed the vivid aurora display from the cockpit of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner while en route from London to Calgary. He wasn’t surprised to see them – flying across Europe this time of year often provides views of the aurora – but the intensity of this particular show was exceptional. This coincided with a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, one of the strongest in recent years.
The storm was triggered by multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs), powerful bursts of plasma and magnetic field ejected from a particularly active sunspot, AR4274. These ejections caused the aurora to stretch far south, visible across Canada, the U.S., and even Mexico – a sight typically reserved for high-latitude regions.
“It’s rare to be flying at the exact time a major solar storm is happening, so I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to witness this event,” Melnyk told Space.com.
Modern Technology Makes Capturing the Light Easier
Melnyk used a Canon R6 Mark II camera with a 20mm lens to capture the images handheld. Advances in camera technology, specifically fast lenses and high-performance low-light sensors, now allow pilots and photographers to capture these scenes with relative ease. He also captured another stunning display on November 17th over Alberta and Hudson Bay.
Why This Matters: The Increasing Frequency of Solar Storms
The recent aurora display highlights the growing intensity of the current solar cycle. Sunspot AR4274 has been one of the most active regions observed so far, and its frequent CME emissions suggest that we may see more frequent and intense geomagnetic storms in the coming months. These storms aren’t just visually stunning; they can disrupt satellite communications, power grids, and even air travel.
The pilot’s photos serve as a reminder of the dynamic relationship between Earth and the sun, and the increasing need to understand and prepare for the effects of space weather.
