This multicoloured light show was captured in Saskatoon on Aug. 31, 2024. (Dr. Shaden Rislan Bani Yaseen/Submitted)

By CKOM

Land of Living Skies

PHOTOS: Northern lights dazzle across Saskatchewan

Sep 2, 2024 | 10:00 AM

The northern lights were dazzling all across Saskatchewan this weekend.

The lights, or aurora borealis, are caused when the Sun blasts charged particles (electrons and protons) into space, which is called the solar wind, according to the Canadian Space Agency.

When the Earth’s magnetic field protects the planet from the solar wind, the magnetic field lines are dragged and stretched, snapping back like an elastic band, launching charged particles down towards Earth’s surface along the magnetic field lines.

The northern lights occur when these charged particles launched along Earth’s magnetic field collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Those collisions produce tiny flashes that fill the sky with colourful light, the government agency says. This light works the same way as a neon lamp or an old cathode ray tube television set. As billions of flashes occur in sequence, the auroras appear to move or dance in the sky.

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Here is a selection of pictures from the spectacular display across the province this weekend:

A spectacular showing in Saskatoon on Aug. 31. (Dr. Shaden Rislan Bani Yaseen/Submitted)

A spectacular display of aurora borealis in Saskatoon on Aug. 31, 2024. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

This ribbon of lights appeared over Saskatoon on Aug. 31. (Dr. Shaden Rislan Bani Yaseen/Submitted)

Brilliant colours in Saskatoon on Aug. 31. (Dr. Shaden Rislan Bani Yaseen/Submitted)

Picture taken in Saskatoon on Aug. 31. (Dr. Shaden Rislan Bani Yaseen/Submitted)

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