THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

So - who saw the northern lights

last night? Weren't they lovely. For a while, the rays came from north and east and west and met in the center of the sky behind us. Colors went from white and blue to green and pink. The lights went from rays to curtains. Near the end, the northern lights came from east and west and not the north.

We drove outside of town a couple miles to get away from street lights. We stood in the cold night air for twenty minutes. It was bright enough - even with no moon - that we could see tire marks on the black asphalt. I returned home to work on reading student journals and papers, but Mary watched more of display, which continued until well after I was asleep for the night.

There was something uplifting about the display, like Fourth of July fireworks, only spontaneous and more intense. And humbling in a massive way for at least one puny human on this spinning chunk of rock.

Comments

[jess]

one day, i'm going to have to make it north enough to see them.

[Chris Clarke]

One item on the inventory of petty stuff I hold against my dear parents: we were driving home one night in the late 1960s from the Finger Lakes to Buffalo, the northern lights appeared, and they watched them for an hour as they drove WITHOUT WAKING ME UP TO SEE THEM DAMMIT.

My house is a mere two-tenths of a minute north o the 38th parallel, so seeing them will require a combination of travel and luck.

[Marja-Leena]

Wow, you see them that far south!? We'd see them outside Winnipeg sometimes. These aurora borealis were outstanding and frequent in Fort St. John in northern British Columbia where we lived for a few years. I think the "big sky" is an advantage over mountains for viewing these!

[Tom Montag]

Jess--It's well worth a trip north to see the northern lights. You don't have to travel all that far. We're just below the 44th parallel and we see them a couple times a year, usually. Of course, you have to know when to be there....

[Tom Montag]

Chris--among people of our acquaintance, if you see the northern lights, it is mandatory to call all those you know who are interested. Unless, of course, it's after 11 p.m., and sometimes even then if they're spectacular.

We are slightly below the 44th parallel, and we see northern lights a couple times a year here. Though seldom as spectacular as they were Sunday night. One younger friend, a life-long resident of the area, said these were the best she'd ever seen in her life.

You know, I've been the parent of small children, a couple daughters whom I love dearly. But sometimes when they're asleep you just let them sleep and enjoy a bit of peacefulness. :)

[Tom Montag]

Marja-Leena--Yes, we usually see northern lights here a couple times a year. They are not so spectacular as what you'd see in northern British Columbia, I'm sure. Our scenery is not so spectacular as northern British Columbia either. I've been to Dawson Creek during fair week, when the road crews sit naked on their motel beds with the door open, when the "working girls" trolling for johns stop in at the Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone. No northern lights that night, though.

[Marja-Leena]

I missed the fun in Dawson Creek! and I still miss the lights up there. One thing led to another and I've just blogged on the aurora at: http://www.marja-leena-rathje.info/archives/aurora_borealis.php

[Tom Montag]

Marja-Leena--I'm plugging your post on the aurora in my posting tomorrow morning. Thanks for reminding us to check out your post, and the links you provide.

[chainsawbillybobbobjimhope]

I'm a fishy,Just keep swinging,just keep swinging

[Tom Montag]

Chainsawbillybob--I don't get what you're saying. I guess I'm just drifting, just drifting.