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Video credit: @SamWx__

A dazzling display of the aurora borealis lit up the skies over Victor, Idaho, on May 31, 2025 — an exceptionally rare sight for the region, driven by an intense geomagnetic storm. Captured in striking footage by @SamWx__, the video shows vibrant auroras dancing across the night sky, a phenomenon typically reserved for much higher latitudes. The unusual reach of the northern lights is attributed to a series of powerful solar events, which triggered geomagnetic activity strong enough to push auroral visibility far south. Notably, the video also features a trail from a passing Starlink satellite, highlighting the growing presence of SpaceX's megaconstellation — a development that, according to studies in Nature Astronomy, poses challenges for astronomical observations by interfering with clear night sky views. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the storm was significant enough to potentially disrupt HF radio communications and GPS accuracy. Models like OVATION Prime, used for aurora forecasting, confirmed the storm’s potential to extend aurora visibility into atypical regions like Idaho. The rare spectacle served as a stunning reminder of the dynamic relationship between solar activity and Earth’s upper atmosphere.