Aurora and STEVE near Billings, MT

The Northern Lights put on an absolutely incredible show during the evening and early overnight hours of March 23, 2023. This image was taken looking south with the lights from the city of Billings, MT notable in the background. STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) looks like an aurora, but it is not. The phenomenon is caused by hot (3000°C) ribbons of gas flowing through Earth’s magnetosphere at speeds exceeding 6 km/s (13,000 mph).