From the fjords of Greenland to the waterfalls of southern Iceland, I never anticipated to see a brilliant and amazing overhead display of northern lights from my neighborhood park in light-polluted, low-latitude Cleveland over the decade I have been aurora-hunting over the world.
NASA claims, however, that this is exactly what happened during the amazing aurora show from May 10 to 11—a rare occurrence that transported green, pink, and red auroras to almost all 50 states (including Hawaii) resulting from the worst geomagnetic storm in over 20 years. Actually, our present solar cycle is more robust and active than predicted, which produces aurora shows worldwide—including those at lower latitudes in states like Colorado and Texas—that beyond all expectations.
In the lower 48 lights, more breathtaking evenings like this could be on horizon. Space-weather experts say the projected rise in aurora activity is just starting.
Why is right now this happening? In a nutshell, a solar cycle—the period of activity of the sun—is 11 years. Currently, scientists predict that the solar maximum—the pinnacle of this cycle—will strike late 2024, pass through 2025, and maybe even into 2026. The display last month could be only a taste of a busy aurora season ahead, and it keeps keen lower 48 northern lights hunters like me on alert. Would you want to come along?
Treat this as a crash course in all things aurora-chasing. Along with details on the finest spots to see the display and the most space-weather experts to follow, I am publishing my exact technique for tracking these elusive lights in the contiguous United States.
Auroras's Working Mechanism
First of all, knowing how to hunt the northern lights calls for a fundamental grasp of the science underlying such events.
Storms on the surface of the sun, which show as dark sunspots, speed the light we observe on Earth. Solar flares (fast bursts of light and radiation) and strong coronal mass ejections, or CMEs (eruptions including billions of tons of plasma, often including solar flares) discharge charged particles into the solar system. Usually concentrated in auroral ovals between the north and south poles, solar winds carry these particles our way where they clash with gases like nitrogen and oxygen to create colorful ribbons of light.
Measuring on a G1 (little) to G5 (severe) scale, CMEs produce the most significant geomagnetic storms observed on Earth according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which are linked with the northern and southern lights. At least seven CMEs and several strong flares brought up the massive mid-May event we observed in the United States. NASA claims that several of these CMEs arrived in our atmosphere concurrently on May 10, producing a G5 geomagnetic storm unlike any seen since 2003. Thanks mostly to a feeble waxing crescent moon, the performance seemed more brilliant from a dark sky.
All being said, even if last month's occurrence was unique, we could experience it once more, maybe several times, during solar maximum. To find the northern lights in the lower 48, though, you need not need the worst solar storm of the decade. Just a few days before the amazing mid-May performance, I spotted a less-known aurora show on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This is how to accomplish the same.
Essential Aurora Tracking Figures
If you have seen any news accounts on suspected aurora sightings, you most likely have seen one measurement: Kp. Determining the degree of perturbations in the earth's magnetic field, this statistic—planetary K index—ranges from Kp0 (calm) to Kp9 (strong). I track Kp using the SpaceWeatherLive application; the index is the first stage in aurora hunting; it will help you determine whether or not lights are visible from your vantage point. Specifically helpful is this NOAA map:
Additionally tracking Bz, which gauges solar wind magnetic orientation, I utilize SpaceWeatherLive. In the continental United States especially, it is more exact in estimating real-time light likelihood. A negative Bz (anything less than zero, say -10nT) suggests that aurora is more likely to arise from solar winds interacting with the magnetic field of the planet. Generally speaking, your odds are higher—that is, more likely you will locate them at lower latitudes—the more negative the Bz is.
Other important considerations include solar wind speed and density; Aurora apps go over these elements. More forceful storms with flashing lights usually follow from faster winds. Moreover, if the density of solar winds rises—that is, if more charged particles are present—the ribbons get more brilliant and strong.
Making aurora forecasts depends much on timing. Visible auroras cannot show up till it is dark outside; NOAA reports that some impact Earth within a day while others take several days. Forecasts made days, if not hours, ahead are erratic, especially for chasers in the lower 48 since we need more elements—such as sufficient storm strength and Bz—to align for a sighting. This is why I created my own tracking system, which over the past four years has produced multiple effective lower-48 hunts.
How I Track the Northern Lights in the Lower 48
1. Get the relevant programs downloaded.
As I said before, I depend on SpaceWeatherLive, a free application including Kp along with details on Bz, solar wind speed, and density. The application warns me anytime a solar flare or CME occurs as well. Aurora Alerts also graphically clearly shows these measurements.
2. Then confer with the experts.
When I get several alerts in a day or two—the pinging in the run-up to May 10 was relentless—I consult my preferred space-weather experts for their professional assessment. Chris Wicklund, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, SpaceWeatherLive, and Space Weather Watch among others communicate most of their results on X (formerly Twitter).
3. Use a dark-sky map to identify the best viewing location.
Auroras hardly show over the contiguous United States; the display is normally hundreds of miles away, close to the poles, hence any pillars you see are far away. They seem closer to the northern horizon in America, hence you will want a viewing spot free of many north-horizon obstacles, such a big lake. (Here are numerous excellent websites with suggested places to view the northern lights in our national parks).
You also want a free of light pollution perspective. Indeed, during the amazing May 10 show, the aurora borealis was strong enough to break through manmade lights in places like Cleveland; yet, it was rare, as was everything else about that magnificent storm. Look for a green, blue, or gray location using this dark-sky map. This will not only increase your odds but also give situations where colors are more obvious to the naked eye since light pollution lowers vibrancy.
Should aurora experts verify the presence of lights and I find myself in a place where I could see them, I am prepared for a long night equipped with blankets and nibbles.
4. Find a north-facing vantage point or travel to a more northern area.
For possible light shows in the past, I have scoured a few north-facing sites in Cleveland, my hometown. More often, though, I am following lights on a trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I deliberately choose accommodation or campsites with north-facing views of a lake on these visits. In this way, I can scout right out of bed or from my sleeping bag.
5. Look up an online aurora interest group.
When it comes time for the lights—which can appear as soon as it becomes dark— NOAA advises 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. is usually the best time; I visit the Great Lakes Aurora Hunters Facebook group (waiting mobile service). Over eighty,000 light chasers from the Midwest and beyond gather together online. Northern Lights Alert is another more geographically dispersed option with devotees all around the globe. As the Bz drops, members provide real-time updates on what they are witnessing in the heavens, therefore spreading the thrill. This forum is also a great source for remaining current on events occurring in your neighbourhood or somewhere with a similar latitude.
Use your phone camera as a spotting tool.
I periodically check the horizon with my iPhone camera when I have neither Wi-Fi or cell service. More sensitive to color and light than human sight are cameras—including those on cellphones. Before my eyes, my iPhone picks on the lights. I set an alarm on some occasions to wake me every hour to do a test injection. This resulted in one of my all-time favorites when camping on Isle Royale National Park in Michigan.
7. Discover nighttime photography techniques.
Using mirrorless cameras, such the Sony A7R IV, which has low-light sensitivity and wide-angle lens, I capture auroras. Since I need a long shutter speed—usually between two and ten seconds—dependent on how fast the auroras move—to allow more light in—a tripod is also essential for stabilizing. Shaky hands make the image blurry and out of focus. Furthermore becoming great in low-light conditions are the newest cellphones.
If you have an iPhone—the best cameras for this kind of shooting are on the iPhone 12 or newer versions—night mode will turn on automatically in case of dark sky. To set the shutter speed to at least three seconds—ten seconds for a better image—click the half-moon icon. Put your phone on a tripod or handmade one to keep the image sharp. For instance, I stabilized my camera on a packing cube full of socks while filming this Isle Royale time-lapse video. At last, if you have it, turn on the raw mode of your iPhone for further editing possibilities. (See a quick aurora-photography lesson here.)
Luna Ella
From the fjords of Greenland to the waterfalls of southern Iceland, I never anticipated to see a brilliant and amazing overhead display of northern lights from my neighborhood park in light-polluted, low-latitude Cleveland over the decade I have been aurora-hunting over the world.
NASA claims, however, that this is exactly what happened during the amazing aurora show from May 10 to 11—a rare occurrence that transported green, pink, and red auroras to almost all 50 states (including Hawaii) resulting from the worst geomagnetic storm in over 20 years. Actually, our present solar cycle is more robust and active than predicted, which produces aurora shows worldwide—including those at lower latitudes in states like Colorado and Texas—that beyond all expectations.
In the lower 48 lights, more breathtaking evenings like this could be on horizon. Space-weather experts say the projected rise in aurora activity is just starting.
Why is right now this happening? In a nutshell, a solar cycle—the period of activity of the sun—is 11 years. Currently, scientists predict that the solar maximum—the pinnacle of this cycle—will strike late 2024, pass through 2025, and maybe even into 2026. The display last month could be only a taste of a busy aurora season ahead, and it keeps keen lower 48 northern lights hunters like me on alert. Would you want to come along?
Treat this as a crash course in all things aurora-chasing. Along with details on the finest spots to see the display and the most space-weather experts to follow, I am publishing my exact technique for tracking these elusive lights in the contiguous United States.
Auroras's Working Mechanism
First of all, knowing how to hunt the northern lights calls for a fundamental grasp of the science underlying such events.
Storms on the surface of the sun, which show as dark sunspots, speed the light we observe on Earth. Solar flares (fast bursts of light and radiation) and strong coronal mass ejections, or CMEs (eruptions including billions of tons of plasma, often including solar flares) discharge charged particles into the solar system. Usually concentrated in auroral ovals between the north and south poles, solar winds carry these particles our way where they clash with gases like nitrogen and oxygen to create colorful ribbons of light.
Measuring on a G1 (little) to G5 (severe) scale, CMEs produce the most significant geomagnetic storms observed on Earth according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which are linked with the northern and southern lights. At least seven CMEs and several strong flares brought up the massive mid-May event we observed in the United States. NASA claims that several of these CMEs arrived in our atmosphere concurrently on May 10, producing a G5 geomagnetic storm unlike any seen since 2003. Thanks mostly to a feeble waxing crescent moon, the performance seemed more brilliant from a dark sky.
All being said, even if last month's occurrence was unique, we could experience it once more, maybe several times, during solar maximum. To find the northern lights in the lower 48, though, you need not need the worst solar storm of the decade. Just a few days before the amazing mid-May performance, I spotted a less-known aurora show on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This is how to accomplish the same.
Essential Aurora Tracking Figures
If you have seen any news accounts on suspected aurora sightings, you most likely have seen one measurement: Kp. Determining the degree of perturbations in the earth's magnetic field, this statistic—planetary K index—ranges from Kp0 (calm) to Kp9 (strong). I track Kp using the SpaceWeatherLive application; the index is the first stage in aurora hunting; it will help you determine whether or not lights are visible from your vantage point. Specifically helpful is this NOAA map:
Additionally tracking Bz, which gauges solar wind magnetic orientation, I utilize SpaceWeatherLive. In the continental United States especially, it is more exact in estimating real-time light likelihood. A negative Bz (anything less than zero, say -10nT) suggests that aurora is more likely to arise from solar winds interacting with the magnetic field of the planet. Generally speaking, your odds are higher—that is, more likely you will locate them at lower latitudes—the more negative the Bz is.
Other important considerations include solar wind speed and density; Aurora apps go over these elements. More forceful storms with flashing lights usually follow from faster winds. Moreover, if the density of solar winds rises—that is, if more charged particles are present—the ribbons get more brilliant and strong.
Making aurora forecasts depends much on timing. Visible auroras cannot show up till it is dark outside; NOAA reports that some impact Earth within a day while others take several days. Forecasts made days, if not hours, ahead are erratic, especially for chasers in the lower 48 since we need more elements—such as sufficient storm strength and Bz—to align for a sighting. This is why I created my own tracking system, which over the past four years has produced multiple effective lower-48 hunts.
How I Track the Northern Lights in the Lower 48
1. Get the relevant programs downloaded.
As I said before, I depend on SpaceWeatherLive, a free application including Kp along with details on Bz, solar wind speed, and density. The application warns me anytime a solar flare or CME occurs as well. Aurora Alerts also graphically clearly shows these measurements.
2. Then confer with the experts.
When I get several alerts in a day or two—the pinging in the run-up to May 10 was relentless—I consult my preferred space-weather experts for their professional assessment. Chris Wicklund, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, SpaceWeatherLive, and Space Weather Watch among others communicate most of their results on X (formerly Twitter).
3. Use a dark-sky map to identify the best viewing location.
Auroras hardly show over the contiguous United States; the display is normally hundreds of miles away, close to the poles, hence any pillars you see are far away. They seem closer to the northern horizon in America, hence you will want a viewing spot free of many north-horizon obstacles, such a big lake. (Here are numerous excellent websites with suggested places to view the northern lights in our national parks).
You also want a free of light pollution perspective. Indeed, during the amazing May 10 show, the aurora borealis was strong enough to break through manmade lights in places like Cleveland; yet, it was rare, as was everything else about that magnificent storm. Look for a green, blue, or gray location using this dark-sky map. This will not only increase your odds but also give situations where colors are more obvious to the naked eye since light pollution lowers vibrancy.
Should aurora experts verify the presence of lights and I find myself in a place where I could see them, I am prepared for a long night equipped with blankets and nibbles.
4. Find a north-facing vantage point or travel to a more northern area.
For possible light shows in the past, I have scoured a few north-facing sites in Cleveland, my hometown. More often, though, I am following lights on a trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I deliberately choose accommodation or campsites with north-facing views of a lake on these visits. In this way, I can scout right out of bed or from my sleeping bag.
5. Look up an online aurora interest group.
When it comes time for the lights—which can appear as soon as it becomes dark— NOAA advises 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. is usually the best time; I visit the Great Lakes Aurora Hunters Facebook group (waiting mobile service). Over eighty,000 light chasers from the Midwest and beyond gather together online. Northern Lights Alert is another more geographically dispersed option with devotees all around the globe. As the Bz drops, members provide real-time updates on what they are witnessing in the heavens, therefore spreading the thrill. This forum is also a great source for remaining current on events occurring in your neighbourhood or somewhere with a similar latitude.
Use your phone camera as a spotting tool.
I periodically check the horizon with my iPhone camera when I have neither Wi-Fi or cell service. More sensitive to color and light than human sight are cameras—including those on cellphones. Before my eyes, my iPhone picks on the lights. I set an alarm on some occasions to wake me every hour to do a test injection. This resulted in one of my all-time favorites when camping on Isle Royale National Park in Michigan.
7. Discover nighttime photography techniques.
Using mirrorless cameras, such the Sony A7R IV, which has low-light sensitivity and wide-angle lens, I capture auroras. Since I need a long shutter speed—usually between two and ten seconds—dependent on how fast the auroras move—to allow more light in—a tripod is also essential for stabilizing. Shaky hands make the image blurry and out of focus. Furthermore becoming great in low-light conditions are the newest cellphones.
If you have an iPhone—the best cameras for this kind of shooting are on the iPhone 12 or newer versions—night mode will turn on automatically in case of dark sky. To set the shutter speed to at least three seconds—ten seconds for a better image—click the half-moon icon. Put your phone on a tripod or handmade one to keep the image sharp. For instance, I stabilized my camera on a packing cube full of socks while filming this Isle Royale time-lapse video. At last, if you have it, turn on the raw mode of your iPhone for further editing possibilities. (See a quick aurora-photography lesson here.)