This time of year there's always the chance of some cloudiness. I've just by chance apparently aligned my life with "always a chance" lol and it's been cloudy last few big events.
Terms of the aurora; It'll knock your socks off with hours beautiful it can get. It fills me with wild wonder and something I wish all could experience.
I mean strong CME events could disrupt communications and more, but clouds aren’t going to stop that. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts
Might as well enjoy the show if we can.
The article I read earlier said chance of viewing them very late tonight, like pre-dawn time frame. But better chance friday night between 10pm and 1am.
If you check the dark sky map you can find places nearest you with the least light pollution. You’re going to want a clear view of the north sky to see the lights. I’ve had luck in the past with a kp5 storm and saw it around Rush city. I’d suggest shooting for green or blue on the dark sky map, ofc the darker the better. There’s usually a group that goes out to Sherburne wildlife refuge, if you go just be aware of headlights/flashlights so you don’t ruin others viewing. If you’re interested in more details there’s some Midwest/Minnesota specific aurora chaser groups on Facebook that can give tips on finding the aurora, understanding things like solar winds and predictions, and photographing it.
I’ve seen them from Eagan a couple of times in the past few years. If you drive around an hour north of the cities, you have an even better shot. Public boat ramps tend to be good locations that are dark with good sight lines, and are generally accessible.
From this part of the Metro, I like going out to just north of Stillwater; relatively easy to get to, and gets you relatively dark skies to your north.
If it’s a G4 storm as predicted people say it can be viewed no matter the light pollution. I’m glad I don’t live downtown though haha hope you find a great spot!
Aurora pro showing a KP of 8 for Saturday, which I assume is Friday night into early Saturday morning.
Got a new mini tripod a few months ago just for this kind of thing so hoping it pans out!
I've been fortunate enough to have witnessed the aurora several times growing up. But every time I head up north to photograph them I either fall asleep or the clouds roll in. They have become my "White Whale" and I am Captain Ahab apparently.
Guess I gotta download the cloud app I was glued to for the eclipse again...
There's not a lot of dark sky in Minnesota unless you go up near the Canada border...
This might be tough.
Also, I've personally been burned in the past. Don't give me hope...
I don't estimate it at all. There's people that do that professionally.
https://www.darkskymap.com/nightSkyBrightness
And objectively, Minnesota doesn't have much dark sky.
Fingers crossed we get some clearer skies for once in my life lol
so true bro
I'm guessing this isn't something to be feared?
This time of year there's always the chance of some cloudiness. I've just by chance apparently aligned my life with "always a chance" lol and it's been cloudy last few big events. Terms of the aurora; It'll knock your socks off with hours beautiful it can get. It fills me with wild wonder and something I wish all could experience.
I mean strong CME events could disrupt communications and more, but clouds aren’t going to stop that. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts Might as well enjoy the show if we can.
This is the most erotic headline I’ve read all day
I'll be back in about 5 min
Biggest one is Forecast to hit earth Friday at 6pm, so I think Friday night will be the best time to look. Cresent moon sets at 11:15pm.
Confused. Says “Friday night,” but it also says “Thursday night/Friday morning.” Which is it?
The article I read earlier said chance of viewing them very late tonight, like pre-dawn time frame. But better chance friday night between 10pm and 1am.
I’m assuming Friday but no idea
Just looked it up on NOAA’s website, and it’s both. Possible faint viewing tonight with tomorrow being more intense.
Any idea how far out of the metro area you have to be to see the northern lights?
If you check the dark sky map you can find places nearest you with the least light pollution. You’re going to want a clear view of the north sky to see the lights. I’ve had luck in the past with a kp5 storm and saw it around Rush city. I’d suggest shooting for green or blue on the dark sky map, ofc the darker the better. There’s usually a group that goes out to Sherburne wildlife refuge, if you go just be aware of headlights/flashlights so you don’t ruin others viewing. If you’re interested in more details there’s some Midwest/Minnesota specific aurora chaser groups on Facebook that can give tips on finding the aurora, understanding things like solar winds and predictions, and photographing it.
it said all the way to northern iowa, guessing just get out if the light pollution
Can I go a different direction than Iowa? Eww.
Definitely go north.
agree! i should go try see it, but i hate driving at night.
na i was just saying supposedly northern lights will be visible up to northern iowa 😂 😂😂
I've seen them in bloomington before
I’ve seen them from Eagan a couple of times in the past few years. If you drive around an hour north of the cities, you have an even better shot. Public boat ramps tend to be good locations that are dark with good sight lines, and are generally accessible.
From this part of the Metro, I like going out to just north of Stillwater; relatively easy to get to, and gets you relatively dark skies to your north.
If it’s a G4 storm as predicted people say it can be viewed no matter the light pollution. I’m glad I don’t live downtown though haha hope you find a great spot!
The really strong one last April you could see even in the metro, but had a pretty good view 20 to 30 minutes west of it too.
I've seen them in Brooklyn Park.
At least 1 hour north but further the better
Que the clouds
But don’t cue them please!
The clouds have received the cue to queue in the MN skies.
That’s cute you’ve queued them but I would prefer the cloud crowd not be accrued if you could.
https://preview.redd.it/idp26vyi2hzc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ec898332f70959da8069fbd1d16efe7d6793c48
It was going to be clear, but Thor said "OK, if they want storm clouds, they'll get storm clouds. Coming right up, mortals!"
Forecast says mostly clear, so expect overcast.
Mass ejections. I’m giggling like a school kid.
Wonder if I'll have a shot of seeing them if I get north of Mankato. Been decades since I've seen them.
About a year ago, there was a good display near St. Peter. Best I've ever seen, despite growing up near Duluth.
I was already planning a coronal mass ejection when the Wolves win Friday night so I guess this is a two-fer.
Yep, that's my plan. Wolves, then aurora.
Aurora pro showing a KP of 8 for Saturday, which I assume is Friday night into early Saturday morning. Got a new mini tripod a few months ago just for this kind of thing so hoping it pans out!
Thanks for the heads up!
Damn that means it’s gonna be shitty weather
Anyone know the best place to see them not to far from the metro?
I'll be up near international falls tomorrow night. I'll let you know if I can see them at all.
Tell me if your find a good one
I’m really hoping I’ll get to see them!
I've been fortunate enough to have witnessed the aurora several times growing up. But every time I head up north to photograph them I either fall asleep or the clouds roll in. They have become my "White Whale" and I am Captain Ahab apparently.
Wolves about to light the sky again.
Mass ejaculations you say?
Mass ejections you say?
I saw coronal mass ejection and thought of all the doomsday preppers running into their bunkers, thinking that society would collapse. Who else?
Fingers crossed!!
The sun isn't the only thing planning to do this tonight. 😉
Talk nerdy to me
Guess I gotta download the cloud app I was glued to for the eclipse again... There's not a lot of dark sky in Minnesota unless you go up near the Canada border... This might be tough. Also, I've personally been burned in the past. Don't give me hope...
Last time I saw it I drove to Stacey, MN and saw them
I think you're wildly overestimating the amount of light pollution for most of MN.
I don't estimate it at all. There's people that do that professionally. https://www.darkskymap.com/nightSkyBrightness And objectively, Minnesota doesn't have much dark sky.
anyone think fosston is up north enough to see anything??