Let’s go over some easy and simple information that will help you chase the Aurora in Washington this summer! In Washington we most likely need a G2 or G3 storm.
I caught it by accident during Labor Day weekend 2022. It was my first time shooting the Northern lights, and I learned quite a bit.
Now we are seeing activity AND clear skies so it is time to go over some basics to the chase!
Planning Tips – Check out these things before you head out
- Check weather forecast – clear skies?
- Check moon phase – closer to the new moon is best or if the moon sets early in the night
- Check the Space weather data – You are looking for X-Flare (the biggest) or M-class flares headed toward earth. Once they actually happen you want to keep a eye out on some of the data that will help us forecast if it is worth the chance to see they Northern Lights ↓
What you want to check on Spaceweather.com or the app
- Higher Solar Wind higher the better –
- Higher BT – High as possible . Today May 10th the BT was super high
- Lower BZ (in the negative or downward.
More information on the these Aurora terms
Solar wind – electrified particles and gases erupt from the sun. Typical solar wind speed is 300 kilometers per second; anything over that is going to be a higher speed
BT—The total strength of the IMF should be high. The IMF is the interplanetary magnetic field, which is how the charge particles interact with the earth’s magnetic field.
BZ component of the sun’s magnetic field needs to be negative, or some people might refer to it as Southward. The earth’s magnetic field is positive. We want a negative BA because, ya know, opposites attract. If there were two positives, they would bounce off each other.
KP index is the last three hours of magnetic activity around the world. It shouldn’t be used as a forecast. It’s an educated guest. KP index ranges from 0 to 9. As you come down in latitude, the number to see where will need to be higher. In Fairbanks, Alaska, you can see Aurora at KP Zero, Washington. It would help if you saw it with a camera, 6 to see it with eyes.
Let’s chat about the KP Myth!
Don’t over think the Kp values to see auroras at certain latitudes. Even a Kp 3 or 4 could generate some aurora glow in northern Washington, but the higher Kp’s do help.
You can use the KP as a forecast, so if you are looking at an Aurora app and that KP is red, it is just an indicator that something may be coming, but never take it at face value 🙂
The Aurora Colors – just for for science facts about why the Aurora is colorful
Electrified particles from the sun make it inside our atmosphere. They collide with gases. Oxygen will cause green and red, nitrogen, blue, and purple molecules to return to a lower energy state. They release the energy in the form of light.
Why does NOAA and organizations keep track of what the Solar activity is doing?
Not only does it cause pretty cool shows, but it can also cause problems with the power grid, communication, and navigation.
The biggest one on the books is the Carrington event, which occurred from September 1 to September 2, 1859. It was the most intense geographic storm in recorded history. It is interesting. If this does interest you, then look it up!
When you are looking for Aurora, there are some things that you should consider.
Finding a spot to shoot the Aurora
- You want to find a place with dark skies; light pollution can ruin your chances of seeing Aurora.
- The clear view facing north is best if there are no large hills, trees, or light pollution.
- If you can or have time, scout out any new places first. That way, you will be aware of your surroundings, which can keep you safe.
You found your spot, so you wait… now what?
First, make sure someone knows where you are. It is also preferred to be in cell phone reception for emergencies and, even better, carpool with someone.
Set up your cameras and get all your settings sorted before it shows up if you can.
Train your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It takes a while for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, so try to stay away from any light, especially the cell phone. If you’re waiting in your car, shut off your interior lights and cover your dash to make it as dark as possible. In a larger storm, you may see some colors with your eyes if you adjust them. If not, you can see the pillars, which look like moving clouds. This is a good way to know if it is Aurora or light pollution/airglow… Aurora moves…
Misc things to know
- Try to avoid using lights when other photographers
- Bring extra warm clothes because it can chill fast
- Bring hand warmers, hats, extra clothes, extra socks, and baby wipes or TP
- Try to scout out the location ahead of time, make sure someone knows where you always are
- State parks and national parks are always good; they are public land. You should make sure you are allowed there overnight. Some state parks do lock the gates, and you can get locked in
- Bring a battery pack
- Consider car camping if you can do it in a safe place
What to look for
Many times light pollution and air glow can be mistaken for the Aurora. You can tell the difference by investigating a few different things
- Are you looking North east?
- Is there a city or something in that direction that would cause a lot of light pollution?
- Is it moving? (Aurora moves)
- Is it Airglow?
What is Airglow
Airglow is a faint emission of light by a planetary atmosphere. In the case of Earth’s atmosphere, this optical phenomenon causes the night sky never to be completely dark, even after the effects of starlight and diffused sunlight from the far side are removed.
Favorite Apps
- Astrophertic – cloud conditions, light pollution, and more
- Spaceweather or spaceweather.com
My Camera gear and settings for Aurora
Camera Gear
- Camera
- Wide Angle lens
- Multiple batteries
- Tripod
- Don’t ever use a filter. I got Newton rings and boy, do they suck, lol.
Webcams & Websites you can check to see if the Aurora is out
Back east to see if they caught any before us
Banff
https://www.youtube.com/@sunshinevillage
Washington Webcam
https://www.skunkbayweather.com/SkunkBayWebcam.html
I hope this helps for now. Feel free to email me at aimeedanielsondesigns@gmail.com or hello@aimeedanielson.com
Let’s go over some easy and simple information that will help you chase the Aurora in Washington this summer! In Washington we most likely need a G2 or G3 storm.
I caught it by accident during Labor Day weekend 2022. It was my first time shooting the Northern lights, and I learned quite a bit.
Now we are seeing activity AND clear skies so it is time to go over some basics to the chase!
Planning Tips – Check out these things before you head out
- Check weather forecast – clear skies?
- Check moon phase – closer to the new moon is best or if the moon sets early in the night
- Check the Space weather data – You are looking for X-Flare (the biggest) or M-class flares headed toward earth. Once they actually happen you want to keep a eye out on some of the data that will help us forecast if it is worth the chance to see they Northern Lights ↓
What you want to check on Spaceweather.com or the app
- Higher Solar Wind higher the better –
- Higher BT – High as possible . Today May 10th the BT was super high
- Lower BZ (in the negative or downward.
More information on the these Aurora terms
Solar wind – electrified particles and gases erupt from the sun. Typical solar wind speed is 300 kilometers per second; anything over that is going to be a higher speed
BT—The total strength of the IMF should be high. The IMF is the interplanetary magnetic field, which is how the charge particles interact with the earth’s magnetic field.
BZ component of the sun’s magnetic field needs to be negative, or some people might refer to it as Southward. The earth’s magnetic field is positive. We want a negative BA because, ya know, opposites attract. If there were two positives, they would bounce off each other.
KP index is the last three hours of magnetic activity around the world. It shouldn’t be used as a forecast. It’s an educated guest. KP index ranges from 0 to 9. As you come down in latitude, the number to see where will need to be higher. In Fairbanks, Alaska, you can see Aurora at KP Zero, Washington. It would help if you saw it with a camera, 6 to see it with eyes.
Let’s chat about the KP Myth!
Don’t over think the Kp values to see auroras at certain latitudes. Even a Kp 3 or 4 could generate some aurora glow in northern Washington, but the higher Kp’s do help.
You can use the KP as a forecast, so if you are looking at an Aurora app and that KP is red, it is just an indicator that something may be coming, but never take it at face value 🙂
The Aurora Colors – just for for science facts about why the Aurora is colorful
Electrified particles from the sun make it inside our atmosphere. They collide with gases. Oxygen will cause green and red, nitrogen, blue, and purple molecules to return to a lower energy state. They release the energy in the form of light.
Why does NOAA and organizations keep track of what the Solar activity is doing?
Not only does it cause pretty cool shows, but it can also cause problems with the power grid, communication, and navigation.
The biggest one on the books is the Carrington event, which occurred from September 1 to September 2, 1859. It was the most intense geographic storm in recorded history. It is interesting. If this does interest you, then look it up!
When you are looking for Aurora, there are some things that you should consider.
Finding a spot to shoot the Aurora
- You want to find a place with dark skies; light pollution can ruin your chances of seeing Aurora.
- The clear view facing north is best if there are no large hills, trees, or light pollution.
- If you can or have time, scout out any new places first. That way, you will be aware of your surroundings, which can keep you safe.
You found your spot, so you wait… now what?
First, make sure someone knows where you are. It is also preferred to be in cell phone reception for emergencies and, even better, carpool with someone.
Set up your cameras and get all your settings sorted before it shows up if you can.
Train your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It takes a while for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, so try to stay away from any light, especially the cell phone. If you’re waiting in your car, shut off your interior lights and cover your dash to make it as dark as possible. In a larger storm, you may see some colors with your eyes if you adjust them. If not, you can see the pillars, which look like moving clouds. This is a good way to know if it is Aurora or light pollution/airglow… Aurora moves…
Misc things to know
- Try to avoid using lights when other photographers
- Bring extra warm clothes because it can chill fast
- Bring hand warmers, hats, extra clothes, extra socks, and baby wipes or TP
- Try to scout out the location ahead of time, make sure someone knows where you always are
- State parks and national parks are always good; they are public land. You should make sure you are allowed there overnight. Some state parks do lock the gates, and you can get locked in
- Bring a battery pack
- Consider car camping if you can do it in a safe place
What to look for
Many times light pollution and air glow can be mistaken for the Aurora. You can tell the difference by investigating a few different things
- Are you looking North east?
- Is there a city or something in that direction that would cause a lot of light pollution?
- Is it moving? (Aurora moves)
- Is it Airglow?
What is Airglow
Airglow is a faint emission of light by a planetary atmosphere. In the case of Earth’s atmosphere, this optical phenomenon causes the night sky never to be completely dark, even after the effects of starlight and diffused sunlight from the far side are removed.
Favorite Apps
- Astrophertic – cloud conditions, light pollution, and more
- Spaceweather or spaceweather.com
My Camera gear and settings for Aurora
Camera Gear
- Camera
- Wide Angle lens
- Multiple batteries
- Tripod
- Don’t ever use a filter. I got Newton rings and boy, do they suck, lol.
Webcams & Websites you can check to see if the Aurora is out
Back east to see if they caught any before us
Banff
https://www.youtube.com/@sunshinevillage
Washington Webcam
https://www.skunkbayweather.com/SkunkBayWebcam.html
I hope this helps for now. Feel free to email me at aimeedanielsondesigns@gmail.com or hello@aimeedanielson.com
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