Indianapolis, IN

Hoosiers in Central Indiana will get two more chances to view northern lights this weekend

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2024

Hoosiers in Central Indiana will get two more chances to view northern lights this weekend

Sky gazers who missed the colorful spectacle of the northern lights radiating across the night sky late Friday may get two more chances to witness the rare solar storm.

In a Saturday update, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center said extreme geomagnetic storms will persist at least through Sunday, creating another opportunity to witness the rare aurora borealis. The aurora was visible across much of the United States on Friday, with reports of sightings in states as far away as Maine, Florida and California. “Weather permitting, they may be visible tonight,” the center said on X, formerly Twitter.

What’s the view like from Indianapolis?

There’s good news for Hoosiers living in Central Indiana where cloud conditions and urban lights made the aurora difficult for some to see. In a telephone interview, Mike Bettwy, operations chief of the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Co, said Hoosiers in Indianapolis and surrounding areas might have a better chance of seeing the aurora today and Sunday.

They can expect clear skies tonight, Bettwy said.

“The aurora itself might be actually a little bit less active than it was last night,” he told IndyStar. “I think the ability for you to see it will be better because the skies will be clearing out — at least in the Indianapolis area and that immediate vicinity.”

The Space Weather Prediction Center is expecting a secondary peak in the geomagnetic storm Sunday afternoon and well into the evening, giving Hoosiers in Central Indiana a third opportunity to see the aurora this weekend.

“It looks like it could be close to as strong as it was last night,” Bettwy said.

More: Hoosiers might see northern lights this weekend, but it depends where you live in Indiana

Coronal mass ejections from the sun, or bursts of plasma and energy, impacted the Earth’s atmosphere causing geometric storms that can result in a strong and vibrant aurora.

Bettwy said a strong burst late Friday and a weaker one this morning will impact the atmosphere tonight into tomorrow, creating a repeat of the activity last night. The stronger the burst, the more colorful the aurora and the farther south it can be seen.

Did any Hoosiers get to see Friday’s aurora?

The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has received reports of the aurora visibility as far south as Florida and Puerto Rico. While Friday’s aurora may have been difficult to see for some in Central Indiana, Hoosiers across the state took to social media to share photos they snapped of the vibrant pink, purple, green and blue colors dazzling the sky.

Pictures where snapped from the sandy beaches of the Indiana Dune, from backyards in Kokomo and other Northwest Indiana towns, and even in Carmel.

How can you see the aurora?

Bettwy said there’s a possibility that Hoosiers living in Indianapolis could see the aurora from the city if the activity ends up being very strong. But, he suggests getting away from city lights — especially if you’re in the immediate Downtown — to get the best view.

“You are going to be much better if you get away from that light pollution and get out of a city,” he said. “But you don’t have to go far.”

If you’re still having trouble seeing the colors from where you are, Bettwy suggests using your smartphone to snap pictures of the night sky. Infrared imagery from phones can pick up things that people cannot see with the naked eye.

“Sometimes people will take a picture of the sky and they’re like, ‘Well, I don’t see anything,’ but then they look picture and are like ‘oh, I can see it now.’ So that’s another little tip. Sometimes people get a little treat when they actually look at the photo, because they can see more than what they would have seen with their eyes.”

Contact IndyStar investigative reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @allyburris.

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Indianapolis, IN

Anti-war protest sparks in Indianapolis amid US-Iran conflict

Published

6 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Anti-war protest sparks in Indianapolis amid US-Iran conflict

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – More than a dozen protesters gathered at Military Park. In a dramatic escalation, the US and Israel engaged in military strikes against Iran and protesters are upset, including veteran Lucas Lee.

“I know what it’s like to be on the edge, potentially going somewhere where your life is at risk. And I believe this war is something we shouldn’t be fighting in. It’s important to stand up, because not only is standing up the right thing to do, but it could potentially save lives.”

Protesters held signs that read ‘Hands off Iran’ in front of the corner of West and New York intersection.
Several cars honked in support. Democratic City County Councilor Jesse Brown attended as well.

IPS School Teacher Noah Leininger organized the Anti-Iran War Rally. “The United States spends 1 trillion dollars on war every single year. While there are massive unmet needs right here in our own communities. People need jobs, healthcare, housing, and schools. And instead our government spends a trillion dollars every year to go and bomb elementary school age girls,” he said.

Iranian officials say the U.S. and Isreal hit a girl’s primary school in southern Iran killing at least 115 people.

The US strikes have not only created tension in the Middle East, but also here at home.
Mark Oakley who supports military action Iran, confronted the anti-war protesters. “Freedom for Iranian people, freedom for Americans. Freedom for everybody, but this [protest] is not it. When you’re debating about innocent people getting killed. You are debating the wrong thing.”

Additional police were called in to de-escalate the situation.

Chris Gomez, attended the protest because he wanted to take action. “Trump ran on a platform called the party of peace. That’s what Republicans run their policy on a party of peace, but look where we are now.”

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Opera’s free concert spotlights influential Black composers

Published

18 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis Opera’s free concert spotlights influential Black composers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Opera will host a free concert in honor of Black History Month Saturday night at 6 p.m. to celebrate the legacy and artistry of Black composers. The event features a range of spirituals, contemporary art songs, and operatic works performed a cappella.

Lyndsay Moy, the director of education, outreach, branding and design for Indianapolis Opera, said the event is designed to keep this specific music accessible to the public.

Resident artist Ian Williams, describes the concert as a mix of traditional repertoire and new songs. The artists will perform without microphones or instrumental accompaniment. “All of this is just straight out of our voices, so there’s no microphones,” Williams said. “We’re just creating the sound ourselves and putting it into a space, so it’s a little bit of, a little bit of breathing, a little bit of extra work there, yes.”

“So many composers tonight have been so influential in the broader vocal canon and it’s important and wonderful for us to be able to offer this kind of concert for free to our community to keep this kind of music accessible and more importantly to feature these fabulous artists like Ian so much talent,” Moy said.

Williams noted that the concert allows the organization to celebrate classic composers who were not well known during their own time. “It’s very cool because we get to celebrate some of classic composers all the way back to William Grant Steele, who was one of the who wrote operas back in the day, even during the time of Porgy and Bess, but he wasn’t, it wasn’t well known,” Williams said.

One of the featured pieces is the traditional spiritual “Fix Me Jesus,” which was arranged for the University of Michigan choir. Williams said the arrangement by Stacey Gibbs maintains the traditional spiritual style while adding rich harmonies.

While formal tickets for the event are currently sold out, those interested in attending can email tickets@indyopera.org to be added to a waitlist.

Check out the video above to hear a sneak peak of the Indianapolis Opera!

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