STATEWIDE, Neb.— People across the state of Nebraska turned their gaze to the north on Tuesday night to take in a rare sight - the Aurora Borealis.

Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, could be seen across multiple parts of Nebraska on Tuesday night. 

Space weather forecasters say the sun shot out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that reached Earth. The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread.

This shooting of bursts of energy is part of a geomagnetic solar storm. When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. 

This surge of power not only lights up the night sky, but can affect radio and GPS communications.

The spurt of the sun is expected to last at least through the end of this year.

If you missed the showing last night, forecasters are expecting at least one more on the way that could arrive sometime on Wednesday. The forecasters also think this solar outburst could be the most energetic of the three. 

To ensure best visibility, consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye. 

News Channel Nebraska made multiple posts on our Facebook page last night, showing photos taken by our staff from across the state. 

The Associated Press contributed to this article.