The Northern Lights in Northamptonshire Up until recently there were a few things, like the Northern Lights, that I had never seen in my life. A live badger was another example.
Having seen dead badgers at the roadside hundreds of times, I finally saw a live one late one night in East Sussex. And last night, I finally saw the Northern Lights. Both things curiously life affirming.
To be fair, seeing the lights in the UK, in anywhere not classed as ‘the North’, is unusual. 2024 has been a particularly active year for the sun and its solar flares. In May the country was treated to a light show … and I only found out about it the next day. Damn, that was annoying!
You have to be in the right place at the right time to see the Aurora Borealis, and that isn’t easy. I know people that have been on holiday in the artic circle and not seen the lights.
Since May, I have been on a mission to enjoy the phenomenon. I have downloaded apps and started following online those in the know about these things. I have been out many times to try and observe the light show and have failed because it didn’t travel far enough south. I even spent time learning all about the camera settings on my iPhone so that when I finally got lucky, I could capture the moment.
This month has seen a lot of solar activity, but rubbish weather made it difficult to observe, that didn’t stop me trying anyway.
Last night though I was forewarned, and I was ready. As darkness fell, I was outside and was delighted to finally see the solar show.
I have shared a few of last night’s photos for you to enjoy. The Aurora was visible to the naked eye, but the camera (in night mode, no flash and a three second exposure) really captures it well. To the naked eye, I could see the red in the sky but it was nowhere near as defined and vivid as in the photos.
I thought that seeing it would scratch an itch, or be a tick in the ‘done that’ box, but I think now that I will continue making the effort to see the lights as often as I can. I am much less bothered about live badgers.
Having seen dead badgers at the roadside hundreds of times, I finally saw a live one late one night in East Sussex. And last night, I finally saw the Northern Lights. Both things curiously life affirming.
To be fair, seeing the lights in the UK, in anywhere not classed as ‘the North’, is unusual. 2024 has been a particularly active year for the sun and its solar flares. In May the country was treated to a light show … and I only found out about it the next day. Damn, that was annoying!
You have to be in the right place at the right time to see the Aurora Borealis, and that isn’t easy. I know people that have been on holiday in the artic circle and not seen the lights.
Since May, I have been on a mission to enjoy the phenomenon. I have downloaded apps and started following online those in the know about these things. I have been out many times to try and observe the light show and have failed because it didn’t travel far enough south. I even spent time learning all about the camera settings on my iPhone so that when I finally got lucky, I could capture the moment.
This month has seen a lot of solar activity, but rubbish weather made it difficult to observe, that didn’t stop me trying anyway.
Last night though I was forewarned, and I was ready. As darkness fell, I was outside and was delighted to finally see the solar show.
I have shared a few of last night’s photos for you to enjoy. The Aurora was visible to the naked eye, but the camera (in night mode, no flash and a three second exposure) really captures it well. To the naked eye, I could see the red in the sky but it was nowhere near as defined and vivid as in the photos.
I thought that seeing it would scratch an itch, or be a tick in the ‘done that’ box, but I think now that I will continue making the effort to see the lights as often as I can. I am much less bothered about live badgers.
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