Tag Archives: Northern Lights

Crisp Point Lighthouse Lady Aurora’s Keeper’s Dance

Year 10,

Molly and I are camped out on a remote Lake Superior wilderness shoreline … about 20 miles by water from Whitefish Point and 18 miles by a small dirt road to the nearest pavement. The Northern Lights were not forecast to shine last night, but Lady Aurora decided she wanted to dance in honor of our 10th season serving as Crisp Point Lighthouse Keepers. This gig does not come with a keeper’s residence. Our home is a 3 person pup pitched 20 yards from the big lake.

At 10:00 pm while getting ready to hunker down into my sleeping bag, I decided to take a quick peek through the tent’s window out over the lake … green glow! I put on my warm clothes to keep me warm against the 23 mph winds and 50F temperature and ventured forth into the night. By 10:30 pm (sunset was at 8:00 pm) Lady Aurora decided to dance … a sub storm!!! Here was her performance.

10 Minutes before Sunset … the same night (perspective … west of lighthouse)

10 Minutes after Sunset … the same night (perspective … east of lighthouse)

Northern Lights and Birding Smoke Plume Current Conditions and Forecasts

Year 10,

Each of the past several summers, smoke plumes from forest fires has made taking bird photographs with “sky blue” colors, and seeing the Aurora Borealis difficult at times in northern Minnesota (and the rest of America). For years both in Canada and the United States the goal was always to put out forest fires immediately. While certainly there are always times when wild fires must be extinguished immediately to protect life and property, forests need to burn occasionally to stay healthy. Read more about this need for fire … Fire in the Ecosystem: Boreal Forest (National Park Service)

Here, however, are two tools which will help you deal with the smoke plumes. I have also annotated several screenshots to assist in your understanding and using these tools. Unfortunately the forecasting tool does not reach too far in the future.

Both tools are from NOAA. Click or Press Upon any image to view at full size.

Fire and Smoke Map Current Conditions: (web site)

Smoke Plume Forecasting: (web site)

Northern Lights / Lady Aurora Danced & Danced

Year 10,

Oh my, did Lady Aurora dance last night. The Northern Lights display in northern Minnesota was fantastic. I drove north from my home in Duluth to just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). This region was recently designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary by Dark Skies International. While the Aurora Borealis display was seen hundreds and hundreds of miles to my south, being able to view the dance in a truly dark location was awe inspiring. I hope you enjoy my images and videos, all taken last night … what a great birthday present for me!

All photographs taken within the Greenwood Forest Fire Burn Area in the Superior National Forest. You may wish to visit my Northern Lights Viewing and Photography Page. It reviews forecasting tools and camera settings among other things.

Sand River Northern Lights

Looking Southwest! (one should NOT be able to watch the Northern Lights in the southerly direction)

Steve! (a rare Northern Lights Velocity Enhancement)

Safety in Important (may need to maximize this image)

Movies??! (I was able to take Northern Lights videos in real time, not time lapse photography. This is unheard of, and I was not using a super fancy camera … a Sony A6300 set at ISO 3200 with a 16mm lens)(Video links for subscribers: one | two)

A Selfie! (My attempt to take a selfie was quite comical. I was on location with a buddy of mine. While the temperature at sunset was 37F, by 10:30 pm the mercury was falling and would reach 14F. A strong crust of snow was forming, but each time I would scamper out to get in my planned image … often I would suddenly break through the snow that was 4+ feet deep and fall. Steve and I got some good belly laughs out of my ineptness, but I only had 10 seconds before the timed shutter delay would fire).

Assuming you are still with me, make certain you visit my Northern Lights page on this web site. You will find lots of useful information on how to know when to find and view Northern Lights.