Lights…Camera…Action!

The northern lights seem to never disappoint; last night was no exception. There was a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun on July 12th that caused this dazzling display. This light show actually started on Friday, but progressively became more and more intense. By midnight last night the Space Weather Prediction Center released a warning for G2-level geomagnetic activity. In essence, this means most northern US states would be able to see the aurora. As soon as I got the warning on my phone I hit the road with my camera, tripod, and large amounts of caffeine. Hit the break to see more…

I drove around Presque Isle county and a small portion of Cheboygan county looking for the ideal spot to set up my camera. During the drive, I was very happy to see many cars on the side of the road viewing the light display. For most people it was probably an experience they will never forget. As I continued up/down the shoreline I noticed the aurora getting much stronger, so intense that I could see the “bands” of color. I stepped on the gas to the nearest open shoreline and scrambled to get my camera set up. Below are a few of my favorites from the event! Enjoy!