At 1am this morning, I found myself on the side of the road, mouth agape, staring at the sky. My vocabulary was reduced to the word “WOW!” and a series of expletives too impolite to print. I was gawking at the most amazing aurora borealis show I’ve seen in my 10 years in Alaska. I was in complete awe.
Aurora Forecast, Sept 12, 2014
If you have been paying attention to the media, and assuming the electric grid in your area hasn’t been obliterated, there is a solar storm going on right now. The Northern Lights are visible all over Alaska, Canada and the northern Lower 48 due to a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), which sounds really painful, by the way. It is possible the storm could affect satellites, your GPS and wipe out your power grid. Obama is to blame.
As I have written before, in the 16 immutable Laws of Northern Lights Viewing, I have learned many lessons over the years of fruitless aurora watching in the bitter cold. Add one to the list: when you see the most dazzling light show ever, you will be in the least photogenic spot possible. These photos were taken along the Parks Highway next to a boring road or on Stampede Road with some telephone lines in my way. This did not diminish the experience, which bordered on spiritual, but had I taken these photos with the lights reflecting in a lake, I’d be famous and could quit my day job.
Solar Storm, September 12, 2014
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Have you seen the Northern Lights?
Are you jealous?
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This post, along with several other photos from the solar storm, was featured on NBCnews.com at this link:
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/solar-storms-ignite-awesome-auroras-n202781
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Yes, this does make me jealous! The closest I have ever come to this one is a display in the Fram Museum in Oslo. The wonders of nature never cease to amaze.
Nature can be truly stunning. Where are you now? Go outside! There is a huge solar storm! You might see it again.
Back in India!
Thanks for the alert.
You have no chance in India. Sorry. But you get amazing Indian food, which is worth something. 🙂
Thanks Jeff. Truly astounding. I’ve visited Alaska but never got to see such a show so very glad you’ve captured it so thrillingly. I’ll make return visits here to explore. Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (drop a nickel).
Dreadfully jealous. One day!
Just time it with a crazy solar storm like this week. If only…Thanks for commenting!
My pleasure, thanks very much for the follow!
Definitely jealous! Beautiful series of images.
Thank you. Did you have any luck in New Hampshire? I saw watch parties on Mount Washington.
I saw it in my dreams – lol- I slept though any possibility of seeing it. I didn’t see anything on the news this morning about it being visible here.
Just unbelieveable!
Thank you!
Little jealous 🙂
Good. Then it was worth posting.
Wow, really neat!
Thank you.
Jeff these are spectacular. Growing up in Saskatchewan I have seen Northern Lights many times but that of course was many years ago.
I have seen them many times, but not like that. Incredible.
Fantastic photos Jeff, and yes, I’m très jealous. I’ve been far enough north to see the show a few times, but the gods didn’t smile on me, so the Aurora is still on my list. I can’t imagine being able to see them all the time. ~James
I have seen them many times, but not like this. Last night was totally overcast which was a huge bummer because the storm was at its peak. BLERG!
Gorgeous photos as always jeff! Jealous I missed it this year. Looks like an epic show.
Yes Phil, it was Epic. Visit next September!
A wonderful capture – of course would have liked to have been there but have enjoyed the images through your eyes
So rainbows and northern lights? What are you really trying to say about Alaska?
Two nights ago, I saw both in a few hour span!
Thank you for sharing, Jeff. Your photos are brilliant!!
~ God Bless Mother Nature ~
Thank you Gina. Mother nature is really special. I was lucky to see that crazy light show.
You’re welcome, Jeff. You truly are a very talented photographer with a great eye for real beauty!!! All the best to you, Thank you for sharing. I agree, Mother Nature is so very special…we all need to pitch in and be good to Her!!
Just wondering. Does this storm also cause Aurora Australis? Not seen in Northern Hemisphere, of course. But just wondering. About 1963-64 we saw remarkable lights as far south as Central Ohio. Travelling north were much more impressive at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Was too overcast in Ohio last night.
Yes Marcus, your comment caused me to Google it. Here is a link to the Southern Lights forecast. http://www.aurora-service.net/aurora-forecast/ It should be dark enough at night still to see it in Antarctica and Patagonia I would think.
I heard that the lights were more visible in the 60s in the lower 48 when there was less light pollution. It is a magical experience for sure.
Extremely jealous… on my bucket list, but until then, I’ll live vicariously through beautiful pictures such as these! If you’d like pictures of mosquitos, or marshes, I’ll gladly reciprocate!
Hahahaha! Yes, please send me photos of marshes. We get plenty of mosquitoes so I’m good on that.
Let me add another WOW! I never saw anything like this and likely never will. So glad you were there to capture this!
Thanks Phil. I have waited 10 years to see one this good. I am glad I wasn’t asleep!
Wow! Just wow!!
Thank you. Were you able to see the lights where you were?
I wish!! We live in Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK – so no chance! I bet it was amazing 🙂
Not jealous at all. Nope. Not in the least. Not even a tiny bit. I have no idea why you think any of us would be jealous. Jerk. 🙂
So, will we see you in AK again next year?
Never say never. Though I did say I would never work in AK again.
Hi Jeff!
Nice pics and yes, I’m very jealous. We’re living in Maine now and I thought we’d have a good shot at seeing them from our house. Unfortunately, it’s really wooded where we are and I saw some faint light just atop the trees, but that’s it. Am I really going to have to move to Alaska to see them? I’m worried about surviving Maine winters. I can’t imagine what Alaska is like 🙂
Alaskan winters, at least on the coast in Anchorage and the southeast, are probably about the same. If you go inland a bit, it gets insanely bitter. Think -30 on a nice day.
How is life in Maine?
Negative temperatures are just cruel. I have my little space heater on today and it’s about 55 degrees out!
Maine is good. We live in a small town on the coast and everyone has been really nice. I love that I can go hiking or kayaking and it only takes a 5 minute drive. Really everything nearby is like a 5 minute drive. Unless I want Starbucks – about an hour. Or a decent sized airport – about two hours. We’ve spotted some interesting critters too: a baby snapper turtle, river otter and wild turkeys. And I’m really excited to see some fall colors!
Awesome shots!! I agree, I’m always in the worst spot possible when I see a good shot – haha. Wish it would come a little further south so I could see it too!!
It is trying to go farther south with these big storms! Evidently, the next year and a half will have heightened solar activity so either plan a late autumn, winter or early spring trip to the polar regions, or hope to get lucky farther south!
I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who is in the worst spot when dramatic light happens!
Reblogged this on mapsworldwide blog and commented:
~Wish I had seen this
Beautiful pictures! Nicely done!! It went on my ‘to visit’ list 🙂
The aurora is supposed to be more active than normal until the spring of 2016, then go into a quieter spell for 10 years, so the time is now!!!
Wow, good to know. Thank you so much!
I am jealous. 🙂
Thank you. Could you see them from where you were?
Nope. I’m in northern Nevada, no luck.
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Great images 😉
Thank you.
I’ve seen northern lights in Lapland several times, but never in alaska. I would love to visit 🙂
Alaska is really amazing. On that night I saw several photos online of people in Finland with great photos.
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