Why does the aurora borealis happen, and how long will it last? [Video]

NORFOLK, Va. — People all over the viewing area were treated to a dazzling show on Thursday night. The Aurora Borealis lit up the night sky for three hours of magic.

Also known as the Northern Lights, this phenomenon is created when energized particles from the sun slam into the Earth’s atmosphere. The redirection of those particles by Earth’s magnetic field creates the colorful ribbons you witnessed in the sky.

The aurora is usually observed in northern regions like Alaska, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, but they’ve put on quite the show all over the U.S. this year. In May, the strongest solar storm in 21 years was visible across most of the country.

Forecasters explain that the Northern Lights have been intense lately because of where the sun is in its 11-year …