Aurora borealis

[Big Sky Guy]

My husband and I were just talking about this. He said this was never a thing growing up here, and the first time he saw them was when he went to Alaska. Never recalls his parents mentioning seeing them either.

Exactly. Same as I remember growing up in Ohio. Folks would talk about them after visiting Alaska but that was about it. Was seemingly a bucket list thing few ever saw (because few folks ventured to Alaska from my hometown).

I know they say we are in a solar maximum but that’s like every 11 years or something so I’ve been alive to recall at least two of them well and a third as a child and this definitely wasn’t a thing lol.

 

[Dave N]

Townsend, MT.

Is it just me or did at least two generations live when they could only bee seen near the arctic? Last 2-4 years they’ve been visible in lower 48 seemingly common now. iPhones sure help but still seems strange I lived 30 years never seeing them, my parents longer and I don’t think my grandparents ever saw them in Ohio in their 80 years of life.

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Never saw them here with the naked eye before. This is a first. I've seen them years ago in Canada dancing overhead and I'll never forget that. All of our trips to Alaska never panned out for lights.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

 

[Bill Zent]

We were watching the northern lights when we saw several lights in the sky in a line going east. Must have been the star link satellites. I got a picture but am too stupid to post pictures!

 

[Dan-06]

Boy, every one is having lots more reds in their lights tonight than normal. Looks really awesome every one!!

 

[jimh406]

Here's one from Montana
.

 

[mevertsen]

North central nv.

s

 

[Speeddmn]

To cloudy here in Helena to see them. Maybe tomorrow! These are wonderful photos from all of you! Thanks so much.

 

[INMT]

Ms. INMT photo. I was taking the girls to dance class. NW MT

 

[Southern Elk]

SW MT. This is the best I’ve ever seen it with the naked eye.

 

[Dave N]

 

[geetar]

Off my deck and down by the lake at the end of my neighborhood.

 

[Oak]

From Junktown

 

[utah400elk]

Northern Alabama!

 

[Gellar]

I remember seeing them as a kid 1 time here in Iowa, circa 1990. We were driving south from Decorah to home and the sky behind us was green. I think on the 10 o’clock news they said the northern lights were visible.

I think part of the reason we see them more now is our technology allows us to forecast the borealis when and where a lot better. Something in cell phone cameras too. They really pop, look completely different through a cell phone.

 

[INMT]

Something in cell phone cameras too. They really pop, look completely different through a cell phone.

I agree. What my naked eye sees and what my wife’s iPhone picks up is worlds apart(I have an old iPhone that doesn’t take good night photos). She gets mad at me when I tell her the phone is enhancing it.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Took me about an hour longer to get home tonight. SE WY. First time I've ever seen them.

 

[Gellar]

I agree. What my naked eye sees and what my wife’s iPhone picks up is worlds apart(I have an old iPhone that doesn’t take good night photos). She gets mad at me when I tell her the phone is enhancing it.

tonight, they were clear with the naked eye much more so than last year. Actually before I took a picture I thought to myself this is going to be ridiculous with the phone, unfortunately it wasn’t. but last year they were 365 degrees of green, red and purple with the iPhone camera.

 

[kansasdad]

My first ever sighting in person.

No greens in Wichita, started watching when it was fiery red, and faded into pinks and lilac tones.

 

[INMT]

tonight, they were clear with the naked eye much more so than last year. Actually before I took a picture I thought to myself this is going to be ridiculous with the phone, unfortunately it wasn’t. but last year they were 365 degrees of green, red and purple with the iPhone camera.

We see them a lot where I live. iPhones always enhance them. Not saying they’re not amazing, I could see them in town with light pollution tonight.