Probable Polar Lights

Looking somewhat out of place and peculiar, I spied this band of light stretched out low on the northern horizon around 9:20 PM, Saturday, February 18, 2012. The band seemed to hold its position and shape unlike the isolated cirrus clouds that drifted straight over me. Had I photographed the Aurora Borealis--Northern Lights? After returning home and checking the auroral oval on spaceweather.com (which shows the current strength of magnetic storms hitting Earth's atmosphere) it seemed probable. The oval extended down into the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, giving credence to the identity of this image. The image is a 20 second exposure at f/4.5, 640 ISO, 18mm focal length. It was shot from just west of the grounds at Christ Community United Methodist Church in Marion, Iowa. In the background just in front of the tree line is East Robins Road. The bright line at left was caused by aircraft lights.