Northern Lights

The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, happens when charged particles from the Sun get captured in Earth’s magnetic fields, and move towards the poles. They interact with Earth’s atmosphere, releasing energy that produces these lights that can appear to shimmer.

Thanks to a friend who let me know about an aurora website for NY and her inviting me to meet at a location, I was able to capture these. This event was even visible this past Thursday for about 20-30 minutes with the naked eye.

Northern Lights

My camera is not good for night images, they recommend other camera models for that. These are better than I expected for my camera. Others arrived at the same location and showed me their phone photos, which were much better.

Northern Lights

The colours changed. It started in one area then appeared in another. The sky seemed filled with colours on the northern half.

Northern Lights

It was so powerful that people saw them from a busy shopping street and many posted images of buildings and bridges that were lit up and the aurora was in the background.

Northern Lights
Northern Lights

Hopefully I will get more chances to see this closer to sunset or sunrise on the weekends. I know, am I asking too much? Word is we may be able to see this from time to time through March.

Northern Lights

In one direction a deep purplish colour was visible for a time, then seemed to switch to a reddish colour.

Northern Lights

Several times we saw green closer to the horizon. Small aircraft were buzzing back and forth. I would like to see the pictures they got from up there.

Northern Lights

I remember my father pointing out the northern lights when I was a child. It was a thrill to be able to see them again with the naked eye. Were you able to see the aurora/ northern lights in your area?

31 thoughts on “Northern Lights”

  3. Beautiful! I think the third one is my favorite.
    I hadn’t heard they were going to be visible until afterwards. I tried Friday night, but no luck. Seeing them is on my bucket list. Maybe this winter I’ll get lucky.

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    1. There are Facebook groups where they tell you at least a few hours ahead of time that conditions are good to have a shot at seeing it. One in NY is Aurora Hunters NY. They let you know of it will be visible in NY also taking into account cloud cover etc. I got a notification before I left work on Thursday that after sunset it would probably be good. A friend who told me about the group also messaged me. Right after I put my camera on a tripod the show started. See if there is a group like this that covers your state. The NY group also has local chats Alecock go your area where people post pictures and say good locations to view it from.

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    1. You may have a Facebook group for your region that alerts you to good action coming up. The one I belong to is Aurora Hunter NY. They were spot on. They alerted us that right after sunset looked to be good and it was. They say there could be opportunities to see on and off through March. Here’s hoping you get your chance.

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    1. Get on a Facebook group for your area that follows the aurora. Some have that in the name other have northern lights in the name. The one I belong to has groups withoin it for certain areas. They give us a heads up like Thursay when the conditions were good for right after sunset. I know what you are saying. That same night conditions were good at 3:30 am. I do not plan on ever staying up all night for this. It sounds like there will be more opportunities up through March on occasion.

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  7. Amazing phenomenon! Your photos captured the event beautifully, I’ve never seen them in person, wish I could. I especially love the 3rd and 7th photos, the colors are incredible.

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    2. I understand some parts of Texas they were visible. The NY Facebook page is Aurora Hunters NY. Maybe there is a national page or one in Texas. We actually got a heads up through notifications that it was looking to be a good chance to see right after sunset and they were spot on. You should see the phone photos people are getting. Those camera phones with night settings are great. My phone camera is just a basic one.

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  11. The one I saw yesterday was not as brightly colored as the ones from your photos but it still made me amazed, thanks to your post, I recognizedit otherwise I would’ve just thought it was a regular sunset.

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