# Northern Lights Happening Starting Friday Night (May 10) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363 "2024-05-10T13:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/61 "2024-05-11T17:41:26Z")
Sure thing. I lucked out there; that was the first one I came across and it turned out to have the best view of all the ones I found. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/62 "2024-05-11T19:41:35Z")
I’m confused. The maps posted here show no visibility in North Carolina, but the local paper had an article about how if I missed seeing the aurora lights last night I’ll get another chance tonight and Sunday night between 9pm and 3am. The weather is supposed to be clear, so I’ll go out and see if I see anything. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/63 "2024-05-11T19:44:52Z")
No luck for me. I’m too close to Indianapolis, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/64 "2024-05-11T19:54:23Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > I’m confused. The maps posted here show no visibility in North Carolina The map was a guess. They guessed wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/65 "2024-05-11T20:03:31Z")
Keep all of your lights off and stay in the dark before going out to view the lights. You may just see a little haze. The best viewing is to look through your cell phone camera. For some reason it captures the colors better. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/66 "2024-05-11T22:49:43Z")
BTW, my shot above was using Night Sight mode on a Pixel 6 Pro. I believe most higher-end phones (iPhone and Android) have this now. It’s about a 5-second exposure, but uses image stacking so as not to be blurry. The colors are more vibrant in the pic, but they were still visible to the eye. At first it looked like a dim, pink haze, but as my eyes adjusted I could see more detail. Our light pollution here is terrible, even being a ways up the mountain. Unfortunately, I’d have to drive quite far for better dark skies. The maps say that the southern edge of visibility was 300 miles north of me. So they weren’t a great forecast. Anyone north/south of 30 degrees should make an effort, at least. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/67 "2024-05-11T22:58:04Z")
The problem here continues to be the weather, with skies more or less overcast and periods of rain, so pretty much hopeless. I continue to marvel at the way the skies cleared just in time for the total eclipse last month! It was like Mother Nature has it in for me so I never get to see these amazing phenomena, but then a Higher Power intervened and overruled Mother! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/68 "2024-05-12T00:51:47Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Our light pollution here is terrible, even being a ways up the mountain. Unfortunately, I’d have to drive quite far for better dark skies. I’m thinking of heading up to Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35) tonight, in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Saratoga. That should get me a little away from the Bay Area lights. Some years ago I went up there for the Perseids and it was a truly fantastic show. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/69 "2024-05-12T01:16:04Z")
That would help, and put you in the same ballpark as Mt. Hamilton light-wise, but still isn’t _great_. You can check out a dark sky map here: > **[Map – Dark Site Finder](https://darksitefinder.com/map/?i=%2F%234%2F39.00%2F-98.00)** Going more towards the coast helps even more, but you’d have to take Hwy 1 down to Big Basin or thereabouts. But really you want to go even further south, say on Hwy 198 east of King City. That will get properly dark. Of course, it’s also far enough south that the aurora aren’t going to be as strong. I went to Fremont Peak Observatory a while back and that was reasonably dark, but still not as good as it gets according to various light pollution maps. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/70 "2024-05-12T02:09:13Z")
We had some people in DFW see them. Tonight and tomorrow night is supposed to be rainy. \< sigh \> ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/71 "2024-05-12T02:44:50Z")
I did my first early season hike to Olallie Lake, WA. Really low light pollution. The last half hour as it was getting dark was a slog through melting snow down to the lake. Fingers crossed that I would find a clear patch to pitch my tent and be able to see the lights. Whilst I was able to pitch my tent, the hills and trees surrounding the lake ended up with a really poor view north. I barely saw anything. And there was no vantage point along the entire trail that would have given a good view. By all accounts, my backyard in the Seattle suburbs had a pretty rockin’ view. Will roll out of bed tonight for a look. My young, recent graduate colleagues that went on a really easy first overnight ever hike to Talapus Lake, had a great view. Go figure. I’m happy they were able to both successfully pitch my old tent, and have a great, unique, first backpacking experience. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/72 "2024-05-12T03:04:02Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > the hills and trees surrounding the lake ended up with a really poor view north Where I am (similar latitude), the view to the north is the boring view. All the action was taking place directly overhead, more to the southern edge of the thing than to the north. Big old sheets, ribbons and tendrils forming and dissipating in rapid order. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/73 "2024-05-12T03:44:43Z")
We’ve got smoke haze from Alberta that started drifting in mid-afternoon, so not likely to see anything special ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/74 "2024-05-12T06:14:42Z")
I decided to try again tonight, and was extremely surprised to find that I was able to capture the Aurora, in southern Colorado! This was taken at around 10:45 pm at Haviland Lake, around 15 miles north of Durango: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/D5Q5gVm.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/D5Q5gVm) This is the first time I have ever seen an Aurora in person. It was very faint with the naked eye, but a 16-second exposure does wonders… ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/75 "2024-05-12T06:20:59Z")
How are you all seeing that. I see a colorless blur. Even went to central Wyoming last night ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/76 "2024-05-12T06:23:07Z")
It didn’t look like this by eye. The camera records the colors that are too faint for the eye to see. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/77 "2024-05-12T06:40:47Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The camera records the colors that are too faint for the eye to see. Resulting in cries of “fake” all over Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/78 "2024-05-12T07:17:00Z")
If it’s going to be faint to the eye, then I’ll pass. I do like the color saturation in the pictures though. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/79 "2024-05-12T07:22:19Z")
Had a beautiful sunshiny day today, but clouds were moving in towards sunset. I went out and looked at about 1:00 am, but I think even more clouds came in. Oh well. I saw them Friday night. So at least I got a look, this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363/80 "2024-05-12T09:24:24Z")
_Might_ have seen a very faint hazy aura this morning, but I think the light pollution from Chicago is just too great around here. Alas. Perhaps another time for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-lights-happening-starting-friday-night-may-10/1001363.md?page=5)