Aurora Borealis

 Aurora Borealis is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky. ~Wikipedia

In the last year I have been on a hunt to see Northern Lights and Southern Lights, traveling to Iceland in the hopes of a glimpse of the colorful flickering bands of light and even to New Zealand because they have been known to make an appearance there in March. But it was looking up at the sky on the deck of our home in Sioux Falls that gave me the most amazing show this week.

8:55 PM on 10/10/24

looking northeast 9:01 PM 10/10/24

overhead 9:04 PM on 10/10/24

overhead 9:05 PM on 10/10/24

northwest 9:15 PM on 10/10/24

overhead 9:16 PM on 10/10/24

9:16 PM on 10/10/24

north/northeast 9:17 on 10/10/24

overhead 9:18 PM on 10/10/24

orange color at 9:20 PM on 10/10/24

pink color 9:20 PM on 10/10/24

and back to orange 9:20 PM on 10/10/24

finale 9:27 PM on 10/10/24

I follow a group on Facebook and this chart was posted this week sharing why we see the colors we see.

It's due to the levels of oxygen and nitrogen charged particles in the magnetospheric plasma. 

I also read somewhere this week that the chances of seeing the Northern Lights in our location (and even in Arizona at our winter home) happen every 11 years. I don't know if that is true, but I certainly have enjoyed the opportunities that have presented themselves in 2024.

I also had a brief glimpse of the Northern Lights on Monday night while I was staying at my mother's house in Pollock. I got a ping (push) on my phone that seeing the lights in my current area was a possibility. "Keep your eyes on the sky." I went outside at 9:15 PM but did not see anything. Then I saw all the Facebook photos and thought Dang! I missed them again.

I crawled into bed at midnight and heard another phone ping at 12:25 AM. I grabbed a robe and my phone,  slipped on my shoes and stepped onto the front lawn and got this view:

12:29 AM on 10/07/24 

I don't think I had ever see such an intense red.

I grabbed my purse and got in the car and drove to the edge of town with a perfect, unlit view of the northern sky. I only saw the dancing green and yellow lights, so drove back to town. (12:33 AM)

12:50 AM 

time for bed and thankful for that ping!