Aurora Borealis

The Aurora borealis above some trees at Crow’s Nest Preserve.

By Daniel Barringer, Preserve Manager.

It isn’t every day (or night) you get to check something off your bucket list. Last night I did.

The full item on the list was “travel some place to see the Northern Lights.” Well, I was fortunate to see them here at Crow’s Nest Preserve.

I am grateful to professional photographer Valerie Hoffman, who shared some tips on photographing the aurora borealis this summer when she was at Crow’s Nest to photograph insects on wildflowers. And I have to thank the B.S.A. Scout leaders of Troop 595 in Douglassville, for sharing their photos and encouraging everyone to look up!

I had just arrived home from attending a lecture on the subject of barns of Northern Chester County (more on that later!) and would have walked our dogs and gone to bed. The hour I spent taking pictures and enjoying the show was well spent. To the naked eye, the colors were much more subtle, and without thinking about them I might have dismissed it as typical light pollution. The long exposure—of a cell phone camera—brings out the dramatic sight. The colors slowly ebb and flow.

Reports are that the geomagnetic storm may continue this evening so there may be an opportunity to see more tonight.