Northern Lights tonight! According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, the Northern US may be in for the most visible and spectacular display since the 1960s, with visibility...

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, the Northern US may be in for the most visible and spectacular display since the 1960s, with visibility through most of tonight and possibly even tomorrow.

We should see them in New Hampshire, as well as in states even further south. You'll need to get away a bit from major light pollution and find a clear northern horizon. Just before dawn (4-5 AM) will be peak in my location, check on yours.

Google SWPC for local predictions and tips. You can also find many good articles on photographing northern lights.

Might be the last chance for some of us - they are quite rare, and harder to see with the increasing light pollution.

Andy

RichinSeattle

Thanks for the tip. I hope they last a few days; I'll be up on Mt. Rainier Sunday night; last weekend the Inn at Paradise is open.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

RichinSeattle wrote:

Thanks for the tip. I hope they last a few days; I'll be up on Mt. Rainier Sunday night; last weekend the Inn at Paradise is open.

The "storm" peaks the 28th. It is rare that they go as far south as Colorado. Colorado is actual at the edge with a very slim chance to see an aurora. Will go out tomorrow to see if the aurora makes it down to here.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

According to what I'm seeing on various websites, this looks like a good one. It's already a good one over in Europe.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

The website says 4-6 AM will be peak here. Tomorrow night / Sunday morning could be nothing or could be equal. I guess I'm going to spend the evening looking at maps, Photo Pills, and Photographer's Ephemeris to find a nearby location with good exposures to the northern horizon.

Does anyone have any good links or articles on shooting them? I've only seen them a couple of times, and not very bright at that, so I've never had the opportunity to shoot an aurora.

Andy

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

AndyH wrote:

Does anyone have any good links or articles on shooting them? I've only seen them a couple of times, and not very bright at that, so I've never had the opportunity to shoot an aurora.

Andy

I like the south shore of as big a lake as possible. Consider Elacoya(sp?) State Park if possible, though I didn’t ck it for light pollution.
If I could I would head to the south shore of Superior but I can’t get away. I would shoot them just like I would the Milky Way, highest acceptable iso, widest aperture and vary shutter as needed. Probably 5 to 30 seconds.
An interesting foreground helps if you can get it.
Good luck, I’ve seen them quite a few times and they are pretty cool to see.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

BassmanBruce wrote:

I like the south shore of as big a lake as possibl... (show quote)

I'm in Keene, so Elacoya is a two hour drive. And the light pollution is about equal to where I am. I think there are closer locations with an equivalent or better northern exposure, including my back yard.

Thanks for the suggestion, though! Truly appreciated.

Andy

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

AndyH wrote:

I'm in Keene, so Elacoya is a two hour drive. And the light pollution is about equal to where I am. I think there are closer locations with an equivalent or better northern exposure, including my back yard.

Thanks for the suggestion, though! Truly appreciated.

Andy

There are sites that show the levels of light pollution across the US. Zoom in and it will show you where is the darkest areas near you. Shooting the auroras is similar to shooting night sky. Check NASA for some information on shooting auroras. Outdoor Photographer is another good source along with Shutterbug (now only on-line).

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Nothing so far. Too much cloud cover. I will take a nap and try again later.

A pretty good guide.

https://www.davemorrowphotography.com/2014/10/how-to-photograph-northern-lights.html#Planning_Your_Shoot_8211Northern_Lights_Photography

Andy

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

As per usual we here in SW Michigan will be SOL for celestial phenomena due to clouds. I've seen them once from here, very faint, years ago.

buckbrush Loc: Texas then Southwest Oregon

AndyH wrote:

Northern US may be in for the most visible and spectacular display since the 1960s,

Might be the last chance for some of us - they are quite rare, and harder to see with the increasing light pollution.

Andy

Thanks Andy;
Here is some interesting information about "night vision goggles" and Northern lights.
About 20 years ago I was in Billings, Montana to inspect the use of night vision goggles in a new model helicopter. For info, each aircraft model had to be individually approved to fly using 'goggles'. All of our testing was done inside a hangar so any outside light wouldn't affect the testing.

Well, when I went outside the hangar about 10 o'clock at night, it was dark and I could not see any northern lights. When I put the goggles on, WOW, was I surprised. They Northern lights we easily visible.
If anyone has night vision goggles, you might try using them at locations even South of where the predicted visibility is expected. You might be able to enjoy the 'lights'.

In the 50s in Mt. Prospect, Illinois it wasn't unusual to see Northern lights. Pretty commonplace actually.

Alex

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Apparently, I am not located quite far enough north. Went out at both 2 AM and 4 AM (a sleepless boy am I today...) and gave both attempts a long enough period for my eyes to acclimate. Nada.

Will try again tonight, even though I might have to sleep all day tomorrow. Did anyone actually manage this?

Andy

Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois

If you really want to see the Aurora Borealis, go to Alaska. 5 years ago I went on a Bald Eagle Photography trip to Haines, Alaska. A fellow Photographer told me about the Aurora Borealis the night before. So I got my camera and tripod ready for the night at the Harbor in Haines. 4 month later (middle of March) I went to a place 20 miles north of Fairbanks for a week. Every night we could see the Northern lights.

Haines Harbor
Haines Harbor...

(Download)

North of Fairbanks
North of Fairbanks...

(Download)

Cmbtvet Loc: Elmira, NY

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!! Excellent jobHsch39 I would hang all of them on my wall

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Hsch39 wrote:

If you really want to see the Aurora Borealis, go to Alaska. 5 years ago I went on a Bald Eagle Photography trip to Haines, Alaska. A fellow Photographer told me about the Aurora Borealis the night before. So I got my camera and tripod ready for the night at the Harbor in Haines. 4 month later (middle of March) I went to a place 20 miles north of Fairbanks for a week. Every night we could see the Northern lights.

Great shots! A bucket list trip for me, if I can ever find the time.

Andy