Skip navigation

Category Archives: northern lights

Early Morning Lights

One of the benefits of having an old dog is getting to go outside when it’s still dark and seeing the stars, moonlight and even, sometimes, the aurora borealis. Sky had to go out around 4 this morning so there I was watching the constellation Orion and knowing that means summer is coming to an end. Orion is always prominent in the winter sky. I walked around the house to wait for Sky (you did know her full name is Night Sky Star Shine, right?) and then I could see the pillars of northern lights over the Milky Way. I’d had my camera ready for a light show a couple nights ago and slept through it so today I was ready for this early morning spectacle. It wasn’t as dramatic as some recent northern lights we have seen here but still it’s awfully pretty.

Northern Lights

The girls and I were camped at our favorite ‘secret’ lake last week and on the last night, I made a plan to photograph the Milky Way. I went to bed at 10 with the alarm set for 2 am when the Milky Way would be stretched above the horizon. Of course, when I was awakened at 2, my body only reluctantly went outside to make sure I had the plan correct. Well, being offline for several days, I did not get the message that instead of the Milky Way, I was going to see the biggest Aurora Borealis of my life. At first I was puzzled because it was so light out and I could not see the stars but then my mind began to wake up and focus and I could see the waves of light filling the night sky, even as I looked to the south! I had no view to the north because the forest was right behind me. The waves of light seemed to come from directly above me, like a revolving kaleidoscope! And then some major waves came from the north east. I can only imagine what the view would have been beyond the trees.

Lighting Up the Night Sky

The Aurora Borealis made an appearance last night and it was quite the show. Even STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) showed up. See the last two photos. I was outside from about 9:30 til 11 and here are a few of my images. It might happen again tonight but the weather forecast doesn’t look good. I am lucky to live in a place where I can still see the northern lights despite an increase in excessive lighting here in the valley.

Last Night’s Aurora part two

Last night’s show of the Aurora Borealis was unbelievable. The lights were moving as if in a celestial dance. They glowed, made curtains, pillars, and moved throughout the sky from the northwest to the northeast and back again, sometimes filling the entire northern sky. They towered high above the horizon. They were green, red, pink and clouds glowed purple. Moonlight splashed a glowing light on the snow-covered landscape.

I could have made photos all night. These are from around 11 til midnight. The last batch was from 9:30 til 10:30 or so. Later Ken woke me at 4 am and said I really should get up to see them again. We just stood in awe of the scenes we were seeing. I did not get the camera out again. It was truly an unbelievable experience.

Last Night’s Aurora part one

Last night’s show of the Aurora Borealis was unbelievable. The lights were moving as if in a celestial dance. They glowed, made curtains, pillars, and moved throughout the sky from the northwest to the northeast and back again, sometimes filling the entire northern sky. They towered high above the horizon. They were green, red, pink and clouds glowed purple. Moonlight splashed a glowing light on the snow-covered landscape.