September 24, 2014 Auroras
Chippewa National Forest, Itasca County
Enhanced solar wind conditions, with speeds around 450 km/s and Bz (magnetic field component) between -3 and -6 nT, in combination with the near-equinox period, brought auroras to northern Minnesota. Auroras were being reported as soon as darkness fell, and they continued until after 11:00 PM, at which time clouds moved in over my viewing area. I was pretty amazed at how far south these auroras got into the sky given that Bz was not very far south.
My first stop was the west side of Pughole Lake off Minnesota Highway 38, and I later stopped at the Johnson Lake public access a little farther north.
 |
| Pughole Lake. The remnants of a more southward auroral band are fading as a brighter band develops on the horizon. |
These auroras were a little too close to the northern horizon to document very will from the east-facing Pughole boat landing, so I decided to move over to the Johnson Lake boat landing, which faces north. When I arrived, a house immediately next to the landing had their flood light on, and this actually made it difficult for me to find the boat ramp. I thought it would not be right next to the house, but that's where it was. I didn't want to bother the occupants of the house, and I was reluctant to search right next to it for the ramp.
This caused me to miss the start of a substorm, so I'm not sure I captured the best of this event. I shot until the clouds moved in, and then I went home.
 |
| Johnson Lake. The lights have a bit more structure now. |
 |
| This is the same scene with a different white balance-- a cooler color temperature selection in Photoshop. |
 |
| The same scene, pointed a little farther east. |
 |
| Reflections in the water. |
 |
| There was also a little glow farther south (left side of this image).. |
Back to Auroras | Home
