The Northern Lights One of Nature’s Best Kept Secrets

My Hobby Observing this phenomenon Then posting photos on my web site – –Started site in April 21 Journal or blog Note: am an observer, not a scientist

Is it easy? Photos from numerous days on my web site make it look like it’s easy to observe the northern lights at my location –Just north of Bismarck, ND

I’m Here to Tell You It’s Not!!!

Hobby Requires: Persistence

Today’s Presentation How to be successful at viewing the northern lights –There’s no secret formula Why North Dakota & other Upper Midwest states are some of the best places in world to observe Some special observations How to make this a great hobby

Ways to Guarantee Failure You ask me to call you when the northern lights are going to be out If I did that to everyone who requested it, that’s all I would get done You say to me, “I heard the northern lights were fantastic last night. Can I expect to see the same tonight?”

What You Need to be Successful An addiction to your computer –Daily review of web sites Then, if conditions look good, go out

Internet Tools – consider paying small fee to receive phone alertswww.spaceweather.com casts/RSGA/0419RSGA.txt - forecastswww.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/fore casts/RSGA/0419RSGA.txt casts/ALTS.txt - alerts in the past 24 hourswww.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/fore casts/ALTS.txt

Internet Tools – current space weather conditionswww.sec.noaa.gov – consider paying small fee to receive e- mail watches & warnings / read the forumwww.spacew.com portal/rt_oval/index.html - real time auroral ovalhttp://kate.nic.ualberta.ca:8000/ portal/rt_oval/index.html

Soak up the Information If a display is expected & just starting, I have observed enough that I can look at numbers on web sites to know if the northern lights are out at my location I then call my dad to confirm

My Model (in head) Works for Me Why I study the internet prior to a display & then after display I equate the numbers that I see to display

The Model isn’t Precise Why? It’s not an exact science Typically you need some combination of below to work in your favor to see the northern lights –A high solar wind speed –High densities –Interplanetary magnetic field – shift to south

Forecasting an Inexact Science August 16, 2002 – story Same as weather forecasting 100 years ago? Why persistence is so important –You must experience failure many times to be successful

Why Lost Sleep is Important Displays are great –However, the substorms rock When lights are most active & colorful –Substorms are often short lived Once you see one, you learn to appreciate the beauty & realize that the time lost watching just a green or white glow is worth it

A Great State (Region) to Observe You can see displays year round in North Dakota –We have dark skies 365 days per year, unlike Alaska or northern Canada Our climate is drier, resulting in more nights with clear skies During major displays, auroral oval shifts south of location – WOW!

Appreciation My perception - we appreciate northern lights more because displays don’t occur everyday

Special Observations Astronomy photo of the day

Special Observations March 30, 2001 – first time see parts of sky turn blood red

Special Observations May 15, 2005 – northern lights should have been visible at 10:30 p.m. when dark, but took until 1:15 a.m.

Special Observations June 18, 2003 – one of longest days of the year - northern lights in northeast (brightest part of sky during dawn)

Special Observations October 28, 2008 – Fastest moving display ever seen – a visual wow!

Special Observations December 14, 2006 – lots of action that never witnessed before – every display is different – keeps me coming back

Special Observations April 19, 2002 – Monitored much of night – display occurred just before dawn – saw start of major display

Special Observations December 24, 2001 – my Christmas lights – photo appeared on

My Hobby Share photos via web site – omwww.prairiejournal.c om Nearly 50,000 page views of December 14, 2006 display –Forwarded s

My Hobby Opportunities to speak & share stories –Such as today Opportunities to talk on subject with small group of people from around world –Via internet forums

My Hobby Opportunities to have photos featured elsewhere – –New York Times –“Resort” Online brochure –Use to respond to e- mail questions –Used by North Dakota Tourism

Reference Material Books –Secrets of the Auroral Borealis, Vol. 29, by Syun-Ichi Akasofu –The Aurora Watcher’s Handbook, by Neil Davis –Aurora: The Mysterious Northern Lights, by Candace Sherk Savage Online brochure