Incredible Lights!

I was sound asleep when I got a text message on my phone Wednesday morning at 1:13 a.m.  Aside from a family emergency, I knew exactly who was texting me and what the message would be.  It said:  Incredible lights tonight!  Since this year is supposed to be "solar max", and thus far it's been more like "solar minimum,"  I was very eager to photograph the aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights.  I jumped out of bed, threw on outdoor clothing, grabbed my camera gear and tripod, and headed to a beach in my neighborhood.  As soon as I cleared the woods, I looked toward the sky.  Huge swatches of milky white were everywhere.  That's what auroras typically look like to the naked eye.  I was shaking with excitement as I set up my gear set and took my first long exposure. 

 

I was not disappointed.  The whole northern sky was ablaze with shades of yellowish-green Lights.  The sight was especially stunning as reflected in the bay.

 

The Lights were every where!  Straight up overhead...

Across the bay to the east...

And even to the west.  Imagine my surprise when I noticed I'd also captured a shooting star, or meteoroid.  That was especially sweet after spending many August nights trying to catch the Perseids and getting nothing.

Solar max or not, it was truly a night to remember.