The strongest geomagnetic storm since October, 2003 resulted in extensive observations of the aurora borealis - commonly called the Northern Lights - as far south as Florida and southern California. Anza residents were prepared to take in and document the rare dancing lights not commonly seen this far south, beginning Friday, May 10 and continuing through Monday, May 13.According to Space.com, the aurora borealis are created when energized particles from the sun's corona, or upper atmosphere collide with the Earth's ionosphere at speeds of up to 45 million miles per hour. The planet's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles, transforming the onslaught into a colorful atmospheric phenomenon.In
