Aurora Borealis-WI

Aurora Borealis over northern WI, September 2005. Time lapse of 2 hours, one shot every 35 seconds, each shot a 30s exposure with a Canon 1Ds Mark II camera and 17-40mm f/4L lens, f/4, ISO 1600.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• aurora
• borealis

[thesecession]

was this at the campground by the casino?!?1?! i go there all the time but never had a chance to see something like this!

[jhapeman]

@thesecession No, but not too far away. Make sure you are on the south end of a lake with a clear view of the northern horizon if you want the best view. Looks like tonight or tomorrow night will be good for northern lights. If you're up there, get out!

[alternateshadow300]

Wait, there can be auroras in Wisconsin? I moved to Wisconsin almost 2 years ago...

[jhapeman]

@alternateshadow300 Yes, you can see them. They are more commonly seen in northern WI, and they are tied to the solar cycle. We are just past solar minimum right now, and the frequency and strength of the aurora should pick up in the next few years.

[sno85]

Where in wisconsin was this? It's gorgeous

[jhapeman]

This was in Lac du Flambeau, in northern WI.

[Arcturusall]

Who needs drugs when you have northern lights?

[whatever2981]

Yeah well the belt of lines in the purple-blue-green area becomes from molecular ion of nitrogen when an electron colides with a molecule of nitrogen.. Strong green line radiates from oxygen atoms in metastable state stimulated by electrons.. they last 1 sec on average.. Red lines are also oxygen in post-metastable state.. those last over 3 mins on average as at 300 km of height air is so rare so atoms don't colide with other molecules so often and last longer..

[YoungGuyCologne]

i'm living at 51° latitude so actually even further north than wisconsin .... but on the wrong continent. so i never will see them

[musubi69]

Wow you can see the aurora in Wisconsin?? Then shouldn't I be able to see it here in Washington State? Washington is a bit further north than Wisconsin... I've never seen it here before though.

[UndeadSniper812]

Live in northeast WI south of GB and I've only really saw them once but it was mesmerizing, definately living farther north when I'm older so I can see this all the time.

[ninamiao]

:')

[SigDrums]

I see this on the sky in my home sometimes at this time of the year. Sometimes, I stop, and lie down in the snow and smile while gazing up at the sky, ignoring everything else, saying not a word.

[kylebabb13]

This is definitely on my bucket list

[pyrofella]

Swamp gas!

[missmarol]

i know that aurora borealis are not quite predictable, but how do you know when they are more likely to appear? Iam a student in Madison, i would love to see one before i finish school and move from here!!! one of my dreams too!