Embers in The Sky: A Night With Red Auroras
6.6.2023
Written by: Juhani Vanhatapio
Tasty red tomatoes in a grocery store.
Tasty red tomatoes in a grocery store.
Introduction
Just as the clock struck 8 pm, John found himself at the local grocery store alongside his fiancee, Sarah, and their little bundle of joy, Lily. He was in the middle of weighing tomatoes when his phone decided to cut through the continuous noise of the store.
“Yes?” he answered, curious about who would be calling at this hour.
“HAVE YOU SEEN THE SOLAR WIND VALUES?” It was Robert, his coworker, the question spiced with unmistakable enthusiasm. “They’re off the charts!”
John’s eyes flitted to his phone screen, his heart echoing Robert’s sentiment as the numbers confirmed his colleague’s astonishment. They were anything but ordinary:
- Magnetic field (BZ): -10
- Speed: 350 km/s or 217 miles/s
- Density: 23 particles per cubic centimeter.
Data acquired from www.jemma.mobi
“You’re on duty tonight?” John asked, a thrill beginning to course through his veins.
“Yeah, I’m about to head out and pick up the customers,” Robert confirmed, adding with a touch of superstition, “Just don’t jinx it.”
“I won’t,” John laughed, an unfortunate memory from a recent night creeping into his mind – a night he had prematurely hailed as ‘spectacular’ only to witness faint, uninspiring lights. “Good luck, and enjoy yourself!”
As the call ended, Sarah cast an inquiring look at John.
“You’re heading out tonight?” she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
“Do you fancy a quick trip? The conditions look promising,” John replied, his excitement permeating his words.
Sarah nodded in response, prompting a more spirited continuation of their grocery run.
Good start for the night.
Good start for the night.
Northern Lights Appear
After finishing their grocery shopping, John whisked his family away to a nearby hillside in Rovaniemi, an ideal viewing spot, free from the glare of significant light pollution. Upon stepping out of the car, they were greeted by a mesmerizing view – green northern lights glowing through most of the sky. Sarah, too, alighted from the car, her gaze riveted on the stunning scene above them. The only blemish on this beautiful moment was the biting wind that sent shivers down their spines. Winter was not just knocking at the door – it was pushing its way in.
Despite the beautiful, yet static tableau of lights they had been observing for a short 15 minutes, their 7-month-old baby, Lily, began to grow restless in the car. Alongside her, the bag of groceries, including their recently purchased tomatoes, sat in the backseat, forgotten in the rush of excitement.
“Should I take you home?” John asked with a concerned look. “I’m not sure when the lights are going to put on their show, but it might be too long a wait for Lily and our cooling groceries.”
Sarah, her teeth chattering from the chill, quickly agreed. So, John reversed his car, directed it towards their apartment, and safely deposited his family along with the now slightly chilled vegetables. With his responsibilities attended to, it was time for him to chase the northern lights solo.
Northern Lights with reflections.
Northern Lights with reflections.
Stunning Reflections
As John made his way north, his mind began to entertain thoughts of possible locations he could explore. The silver lining of operating without customers was that it afforded him the liberty to scout new locations. The pressure of guaranteeing a prime spot was absent – if the selected location proved to be a disappointment, it was a lesson learned, not a promise broken.
With this newfound freedom, John’s thoughts pivoted to the photographic opportunities this expedition presented. This time of year was ideally suited for capturing the stunning phenomenon of northern lights mirrored in the still, open waters. Nearby locations began to unspool in his mind as he navigated the dimly lit roads.
During his musings, a sign announcing a boat ramp by the riverside caught his attention. On a whim, he decided to follow the arrow’s direction. It was half past nine when he pulled up at the river’s edge. He killed the engine, grabbed his camera, secured it to the tripod, and ventured toward the river.
The ethereal northern lights were still painting the sky, their twisting arcs looking even more enchanting against the river’s surface. His camera lens drank in the mesmerizing scene – the glittering Ounasjoki River reflecting not only the lights but also the star-speckled sky.
This river held a special place in John’s heart; his ancestors had journeyed to these lands, setting up their lives by this grand waterway. Recognized as the longest freely flowing river in Finland, the Ounasjoki was once among the country’s finest salmon habitats. However, the damming of its mainstem, Kemijoki, had impeded the migratory path of the salmon, leading to a steep decline in their population.
John felt deep grief in his heart. The disruption of nature’s harmony left a bitter taste in his mouth. Sensing the swell of deep-seated anger within him, he attempted to divert his attention back to the hypnotic dance of the northern lights.
Precious moments.
Precious moments.
Solitude
John soon found himself shaking off the tragic tale of the salmon, his attention wholly seized by the captivating view of the northern lights and their reflections. A wave of satisfaction washed over him as he realized he had uncovered a new spot to witness this mesmerizing phenomenon, conveniently close to home.
The solitude of the moment was another aspect he appreciated. His life, of late, had been a whirlwind of activity, and the demands of parenthood left little room for solitude. Moments like these, standing alone under a canopy of stars, basking in the flickering glow of the northern lights, were rare and precious.
With his gaze still trained on the sky, he pulled out his phone to check the solar wind values. The figures, however, painted a less than ideal picture:
- BZ: +2
- Speed: 350 km/s
- Density: 6 particles per cubic centimeter
A muttered curse escaped John’s lips as he read the disappointing values. They hinted at a glaring absence – there hadn’t been an explosion yet. His heart tightened with worry. Surely there would be a climax to the extraordinary values that had persisted over the last 12 hours?
Feeling the sharp sting of the chilly air, John returned to the refuge of his car, cranking up the heater to combat the encroaching cold.
Something great is about to happen.
Something great is about to happen.
So it begins
John barely spent any time cocooned inside the car – the lights outside seemed to grow in intensity. He quickly made his way back to the river, where the lights were now pulsating in a fascinating rhythm. His vantage point offered an excellent view to the north, but as he would soon discover, the real magic was brewing to the south.
Embers in the sky.
Embers in the sky.
Red Northern Lights
As John pivoted to face the southern horizon, his breath hitched at the sight that greeted him. Red Northern Lights! An adrenaline rush surged through him as the extraordinary spectacle unfolded. This was a sight he had only witnessed once before, and that was seven years ago during his mandatory military service.
He was vividly reminded of that time – participating in a military exercise deep in the woods when the night sky had burst into such a vibrant display of northern lights that their platoon leader had ordered a pause in the exercise. This break was solely so that everyone could soak in the breathtaking show unfurling above them. John recalled lying in the snow, disregarding the biting cold, his gaze locked onto the celestial dance – a tableau that included the majestic red auroras.
Creating memories.
Creating memories.
Rare Occasion
John reveled in the rare display of red lights, watching in quiet awe as they gradually receded, disappearing from view after a mere six minutes. A thoughtful frown tugged at his brow as he wondered when he might have the privilege of witnessing this sight again. He certainly hoped it wouldn’t take another seven years. It was common to see the red auroras appear in the photograph, but not really to the naked eye.
With the temperature dipping to -1° Celsius (30° F), a nipping cold began to take hold of his fingers, regardless of his thorough preparations. Shaking off the creeping chill, he started to jog in place to stave off the cold. Winter, after all, had a way of asserting its presence, even when one was armed against it.
Last photo before the battery died.
Last photo before the battery died.
Low Battery
With the departure of the red lights, the southern sky was now a canvas for an exquisite display of vibrant green lights. It wasn’t an everyday occurrence for the lights to arch over the Arctic Circle. When the northern lights danced in the southern sky from this vantage point, it meant that observers in Southern Finland could also view these lights, high in their northern sky. John was poised to capture more of this incredible spectacle on camera when, much to his dismay, his camera switched off, its battery depleted.
He muttered a curse, realizing he hadn’t packed any extra batteries. The urgency with which he’d set off on this hunt had left him without his usual thorough preparations. With customers, such an oversight would have been unimaginable. He glanced at his watch – it was 22:50, and the pangs of sleep deprivation were starting to tug at him.
Most intense show of the season.
Most intense show of the season.
The Grand Finale
“Maybe I should go now,” he murmured to himself after a further 10 minutes of waiting. However, he was barely through the sentence when the entire sky began to shimmer, as if stirred to life. A cascade of green and purple lights began to dance across the canvas of the sky. Their movement was intense and their shapes otherworldly.
In response, John let out a shout of joy and began to move in rhythm with the lights, his feet tracing patterns on the riverbank. He felt a rush of life coursing through his veins, a surge of elation making him feel like the happiest man in the world. His eyes greedily devoured the display, cherishing each moment with the knowledge that experiences like these were precious and fleeting.
This celestial spectacle held his rapture for a full 20 minutes before it gradually transitioned into diffusive northern lights, often the finale to such grand performances. This signaled the end of the show, and even before he checked his phone, he knew intuitively that the rest of the night would not match these levels of awe-inspiring beauty.
The Great Red Auroras in Ancient Greece.
The Great Red Auroras in Ancient Greece.
Conclusion
As John journeyed back, he found himself reflecting on the historical observations of the red northern lights. In Ancient Greece, sightings of these lights in the northern sky were a rarity. Initial misinterpretations chalked up the glow to distant forest fires, but it didn’t take long for the ancient Greeks to realize that they were witnessing a peculiar celestial phenomenon.
Certain cultures believed this red light was an ethereal testament to their fallen warriors, their blood spilling across the night sky. As he drove towards Rovaniemi, towards the familiar comforts of home, John’s thoughts meandered to those ancient times. His imagination painted vivid images of those witnessing the majestic red auroras for the first time, a sense of historical wonderment accompanying him on his journey home.