2024 Northern Lights

Overview

2024 Northern Lights refers to auroras that could be seen across Northern Europe, North America, and parts of Australia and New Zealand on May 10th, 2024. Caused by a geomagnetic storm, particles from a sunspot hit the earth's atmosphere and created pink-hued auroras in the sky. Memes and discussions about the event ranged from people commenting on it's beauty, and expressing sadness that they could not witness it.

Background

On May 10th, 2024, the largest geomagnetic storm in nearly two decades hit the earth's atmosphere, creating auroras that could be seen both in the Northern Hemisphere and parts of Australia. The auroras were caused by a sunspot sending charged particles toward earth, resulting in pink-hued lights in the night sky.^[1]

Online Reactions

Many internet users posted about missing out on seeing the Northern Lights, including X^[2] user @jpbrammer, who wrote, "what it feels like scrolling through northern lights photos as someone who didn’t see them despite being kind and compassionate and deserving" on May 11th, 2024. The post gathered over 25,000 likes in a day (seen below, left).

On May 11th, Instagram^[3] page @zeobat posted a meme showing Homer Simpson looking out of place surrounded by many images of the aurora, implying that the poster feels left out of the event. The post gathered over 2,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).

Also on May 11th, 9gag^[4] user @serwasaustria posted a meme showing Principal Skinner and Superintendent Chalmers soy facing at the Northern Lights, a reference to a line from the Steamed Hams Simpsons gag.

Various Examples

Search Interest

Unavailable.

External References