This is a great blog! The big question now is what will the upswing into Solar Cycle 25 present? The Northern Lights most commonly appear between 60-75-degree Longitude, making the North Shore a hot spot for seeing the lights. CMEs are ejections from the suns atmosphere that carry a magnetic field and result in the formation of Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights. Northern Lights is a clean, modern, family-friendly fishing resort not to mention an ideal location for your next vacation. 1. The real deal happened Wednesday night through Thursday morning. forecast, but my favorite tool is Step #2: Be A Lights Chaser. Visitors on the North Shore can check the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center website for the daily Aurora forecast, to see if any clear nights, which provide the best viewing conditions, are on the horizon. Check the Forecast The Northern Lights are notoriously hard to predict, but for the best odds, these sites can help. If the lights start to pop I would still get away from town. Here S Where To Look For The Northern Lights In U On Sunday. Long term Aurora forecasts are NOT reliable, but if you are planning a trip and hoping to optimize your viewing chances, this resource from the University of Alaska is worth utilizing. The Ovation Auroral prediction. No clue on setting on camera but will practice and grab the hubbys digital. If there was solar activity at a particular time during the past cycle (28 days ago), long term forecasts will predict similar activity when that region of the sun again points at the earth 28 days later. I would never visit my region just for the hope of seeing the Aurora. Here's the best place to see northern lights in the U.S. Minnesota's only national park is ideally positioned for auroras, which can occur as often as 200 nights per year. 35387 Northern Lights Trail Richville, MN 56576. I recently saw a post on one of the facebook pages with a photo of the Aurora taken a few days ago in Grand Marais. We are planning a trip to Lake Vermilion Ludlows Resort for 2 days Sep 29th and Sep 30th. The page is a bit difficult to understand, but just remember these key points: Watches & Warning are good. I am planning a trip to the Duluth area this weekend October 14th and 15th the ratings for the Northern Lights is at a 5 can you tell me where a good spot is to view them and if Im in the correct area Ive been reading your post in your blogs it appears like there is a place called Boulder Lake if Im correct that you went to can you tell me if that is still a good spot also can you tell me is there anything that you can see that shows whether or not the lights may or may not be visible or have any good tips for me this is the first time experience but have always wanted to view them. I was wondering if you arrange for aurora trips or know of any tours in the area ? To help you create the best northern lights experience, we put together our top 8 tips on how to see the northern lights. Excessive moonlight washes out Aurora displays. We will be in a 4 Runner and plan to drive out of any town to get better views. Here is the most up-to-date image: It's a good sign if you see a thick aurora band with some areas of light yellow, orange or, better yet, RED on this map as opposed to just a thin . Northern Lights March 1-4, 2023. Viewing the Aurora Borealis in the winter is very possible in northern Minnesota. Bob King. Always, always bring an extra set of car keys which are in your parka, not a bag or something else which could get locked in your car. Thank you so much for the kind, quick reply. Therefore, sunspots, like those seen on this solar image to the left, are like a giant revolving firehose emitting energy into space for sometimes months at a time. (FOX 9) - The aurora put on quite the show overnight in Minnesota, as viewer photos and videos show the mystic green glow. It looks like the KP level to view the Northern Lights in the next few days in good. Contributed / Stellarium with additions by Bob King. You'll notice a fainter star just 1.5 below the ringed planet. My brother and I want to travel to Northern Minnesota in late February or early March. Take a look at this shot taken from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The gas giant shines at magnitude -2.6, the typical brightness of the International Space Station, and rises nearly due east in Pisces a full 45 to the left (east) of Saturn. Geomagnetic activity is driven by solar activity and solar coronal holes and thus it waxes and wanes with time. Joshua: It is possible to view the Aurora Borealis in the middle of the Summer in northern Minnesota, but the viewing window each night is short. The only essentials are a dark sky to the north with as little city light pollution as possible and clear weather. It's incredibly brilliant even when close to the horizon. During the daylights hours when you first get to Ludlows Resort ask their staff if there are any good spots on the lake with views to the north w/o any bright lights near by. Annually occurring sometime between mid-July and mid-August is the Perseid meteor shower. Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail inland from Grand Marais. You drive 100 miles, stay up late and see nothing. Planning your winter Northern Lights trip: Experience The Northern Lights In Minnesota Visit Cook County Mn Northern LightsSpecial Education CooperativeQuality Education Through Cooperation and Partnership. Download The Northern Lights Photography Guide, View map for a visual on where you might see lights, Aurora Alerts Mobile App (iOS + Google Play), Read more about what causes the aurora borealis here, Refer to the Northern Lights PDF to identify which routes are on plowed roads. Avoid anything within 15 miles of even small towns too much light pollution. Make sure to go at least 20 to 30 miles outside of any town to avoid light pollution. Aurora Borealis season in northern polar latitudes (Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Siberia) runs from August-thru-April. Thanks for the reply Im a little confused as to where you check the GW 45 rating at also I am planning on going to lutsen mn. "Astro" Bob King is a freelance writer and retired photographer for the Duluth News Tribune. The folks at the front desk could arrange dog sled tours, directions to the Bear Research Center, etc. Thanks a million! Duluth Entertainment Convention Center 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802. Minnesotans Capture Northern Lights On Sept 4 2022. Times are in UTC, which must be converted to your local time zone. Space Weather Prediction Center Northern Lights Public Schedule. The Northwest Angle is deemed the northernmost point in the continental states which is separated from the rest of Minnesota by Lake of the Woods. Friends of mine who hunt do this because they enjoy being out in the wild, often with friends. Northern Minnesota is one of the best areas to view the Aurora in the continental United States due to its proximity to magnetic north (northern Hudson Bay). These events range from a formal dinner to a crazy singing competition involving cow bells. The agencys most recent forecast has the geomagnetic action still fairly strong not peak, but not bad between 7 p.m central time Saturday night to 1 a.m. Sunday morning. I remember talking about you folks with my Bill and Phillis while down in Texas. Northern Lights Express, or NLX, is igniting imaginations around Minnesota and the nation. The Northern Lights tend to follow the 28 day solunar cycle. A Northern Lights display can happen anytime during a 24 hour period. Plus, they have a forecast available to help you know what Aurora activity you may see in the week ahead. Any place to stay in/near duluth that might be warm to watch for them? You can reach him at nightsky55@gmail.com. Capturing the northern lights on film is no easy task. If your willing to stay at a resort, there are a number of options I like on the Gunflint Trail. Details are still being worked out, but I will post on my blog once registration is open. Upon linking to the site, you will see a image of the northern hemisphere. Saturn's up and easy to see low in the southeast by 11 p.m. local time, with Jupiter arriving on the scene around midnight. The NLASC meets at Peace Church, 1111 N 11th Ave E, Duluth, MN 55805 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm six times a year on the 1st Saturday of the even months: February, April, June, August, October, and December. Want Kp index of 5+ in NE Minnesota. Thanks again. We will be in Grand Portage/Isle Royale in September. Ensure that the sky will be clear by checking a weather forecast. - Map showing how strong the aurora is around the world, based on the SWPC ovation aurora forecast. The new location is slated to open in June. Long, starry nights of fall and winter make months from September to February well-known for northern lights journeys. These Coronal . All measurements are only a prediction, and give no northern lights guarantee . We see that you have javascript disabled. I am planning a trip to Tofte early August. 01%. For instance, on the longest day of the year, June 21st in terms of light, the sun does not set till well after 9 pm, and rises shortly around 5 am. 06-09. It might be tough to see the northern lights in the Twin Cities due to light pollution. If Ludlows does not know of a spot, try looking on Google Maps (satellite mode) for public boat launches on lakes in the region which face north. Having said that remember these facts in planning a trip to northern Minnesota in early August. The The Northern Lights Express (NLX) is a proposed higher speed passenger rail project that would provide rail service between Minneapolis and Duluth. Partly cloudy works, too. Proceed with caution during winter months and observe all road signs or closures. Every year, explorers, adventurers and artists from around the world travel to Cook Countyto. caught a glimpse while in Idaho this summer and now hope to see the lights in March in Duluth! Use these resources to learn when an aurora display is forecast! Good news on that front, too. Mythbuster: Contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be cold to see the aurora, just dark and clear.and clear skies usually mean its cold, hence the association between auroras and chilly nights. Will be in the Duluth Minnesota area Friday Oct 21 2022 thru Tues Oct 25 2022 From your room you should be able to see a display of the Northern Lights, but it a good display was in progress it would be essential to get out of town (i.e. We usually prefer to wander on our own but for northern lights I believe you really need a good amount of knowledge to visit the right spot at right time. In the explosive event that a coronal mass ejection (CME) is reported it's time to hop into action because this super-charged solar wind is traveling fast (maybe 3-to-5 million miles per hour). https://www.365daysofbirds.com/2017/01/25/planning-winter-minnesota-northern-lights-trip/, Planning your Northern Lights trip: In addition, the closer you get to the Canadian border in Minnesota, the better your chances. The area covers much of the northern part of the United States -- including all of Minnesota -- and much of Canada. I can not stress to highly about being careful in terms of winter camping. **new** Northern Lights and Stargazing tips and forecasts (Mar 4-5) travel tips. Experience it like a pro with the hottest deals in the state. Current Aurora Forecast. This graphic is from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the U.S. This is a very helpful tool for predicting auroras. CME forecast. Please bring your enthusiasm for recovery and a willingness to support Narcotics Anonymous in the Northern Lights Area. You can reach him at nightsky55@gmail.com. Still, it's a chance to see the northern lights! Always there are caveats. Not to far from Grand Portage is the Arrowhead Trail (goes inland from Hovland, Minnesota). It's another maybe forecast for possible northern lights favoring northern Minnesota overnight. Hi Calvin a second answer to your question. The wildlife including birds is fantastic. Wed be happy to get some cool photos of stars and wildlife. P.O. Between It is NOT a forecast. Weather.gov > Duluth, MN . We are ready to build! They claim the staff will alert guests if an Aurora shines overhead. On the day of your hoped for Aurora watching, use Ovation Aurora also linked on this page. Strong-Extreme storm. N. America. NOAA's Thanks for your prompt response.I have never really been in the wilderness and thus I have little to no knowledge.You did give a great insight and I appreciate it. Hawk Ridge, Duluth. Dont just visit Cook County. Skies are very dark. If constructed, NLX will operate on approximately 152 miles of existing BNSF rail corridor. Learn more about the NLX project; Current status I have been before but I seriously never knew the Aurora Borealis could be viewed from this area. 2. Download an Aurora App: Apps like Aurora Alerts, My Aurora Forecast (available on Android and iOS), and Aurora Forecast (only available on iOS) are a great way to see what the likelihood is of seeing the Northern Lights at any given time. Thanks Rich! For the best chance of viewing the northern lights, follow these steps: Check that the aurora is active with an Aurora Forecast.