Nov 17, 2025 - Climate

Readers capture northern lights over Boulder

Mitchell Byars

Night sky over a city with visible stars and a vibrant aurora showing green and pink colors above buildings and mountains in the background. — The northern lights and the Boulder County Courthouse light up the Boulder sky on Nov. 11. Photo: Amir Caspi

When the northern lights danced over Boulder County last week, readers from near and far grabbed their cameras — and the stunning results are lighting up our inbox.

State of play: A geomagnetic storm created auroras farther south than normal on Nov. 11, with the lights visible to the naked eye even in Boulder.

Unfortunately, cloud cover deprived us of an encore the following night.

We asked for photos from Boulder County readers, and you did not disappoint. Here are a few of our favorites:

Night sky with bright red and green aurora borealis above dark silhouette of a house and trees, scattered stars visible in the purple gradient sky. — The northern lights from north Boulder. Photo: Gail Pederson

Silhouette of a couple leaning close against a backdrop of a vibrant pink and green aurora borealis above a cityscape, framed by dark tree branches at night. — Enjoying the lights from Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder on Nov. 11. Photo: Julia Severson

City lights under a night sky with red and green northern lights, stars visible, and a dark foreground of houses and trees. — The northern lights from Coyote Ridge Open Space in Superior. Photo: Alyssa Gregory

Night sky with vibrant red and white northern lights above a dark forest silhouette and scattered city lights below. — The northern lights over Nederland on Nov. 11. Photo: Kristin Conrad

And a very good boy bonus sunset photo:

Golden retriever on balcony looking at bare trees and dark hills under a vibrant orange and blue sunset sky. — Murphy the dog enjoying the sunset over Sanitas on Nov. 10. Photo: Todd Ebert

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Readers capture northern lights over Boulder

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