Believe It Or Not, The Northern Lights Hit Southern California Last Night

This weekend's solar storm brought a rare opportunity for many people in the continental U.S. to see bright and vivid northern lights last night.

And while other cities farther north got a better view of the unusually strong solar storm, there were a few viewing places where you could see a glimpse of the aurora borealis close to the horizon.

The city wasn't exactly a prime viewing point, but given the strength of the storm, the lights were visible Mount Wilson Observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains.

(

Courtesy High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network

/

UCSD

)

Keep up with LAist.

If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.

Subscribe

(

Courtesy High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network

/

UCSD

)

But the people watching the lights from Mount Wilson in person managed to snap some more impressive pictures.

And Mount Wilson wasn't the only spot to observe the solar storm — the high desert also had some opportunities to view the lights close to the horizon.

And for those of us who can't make the trip up to Mount Wilson or another vantage point with low light pollution, never forget that there are cathedrals everywhere with those with the eyes to see.