The northern lights put on a show across the sky in Maryland on Tuesday evening.

The phenomenon is caused by geomagnetic storms due to solar flares, or energy that comes off the sun and travels through space toward Earth. 

Geomagnetic storms 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) forecasted G4 geomagnetic storm levels. G4 is the second-highest level of measurement for these events. It is also the level that produced Tuesday's auroras. 

Forecasting space weather can be difficult as a number of factors — including intensity, timing, and position — have to come together perfectly for the aurora borealis to be visible so far south. 

Photos: Northern lights seen in Maryland

On Tuesday night, viewers from Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick and Harford counties got clear views of the northern lights. 

This photo was sent from Rising Sun, Maryland:

The following two photos were shared from Carney, Maryland:

This photo was sent from Abingdon, Maryland:

This photo was shared from Bel Air, Maryland:

Here's a photo from Middle River, Maryland:

Here's a photo from Glen Arm, Maryland:

This photo was sent from Churchville, Maryland:

This photo was shared from Harford County, Maryland:

This photo was taken in Rose Haven, Maryland:

This photo was taken in Owings Mills, Maryland:

This photo was shared from Sykesville, Maryland:

This photo was sent from Preston, Maryland:

This photo is from Baldwin, Maryland:

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