Northern lights in Central Wisconsin. Image courtesy: Dave Kallaway
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — If some of your friends or coworkers were running on extra coffee this morning, chances are they were staying up to catch another round of Northern Lights.
Dave Kallaway of WIFC’s Kallaway on the Rise was one of them. He says the anticipated aurora show from Thursday night into Friday almost didn’t happen despite all the metrics pointing in the right direction. “There is a scale, and if that scale is at a five or a six [chances] are really good. Last night’s scale was at seven, and that’s very good. It was looking like we should see the Northern Lights, but we didn’t see anything. Then at 5:00 AM- there they were.
“It’s rare when you catch them as early in the morning as we did,” added Kallaway.
Kallaway says he’s been chasing the lights for about 20 years. He and others will strategize in the days leading up to an aurora event to find the best spot for viewing, which is generally outside of the city and away from artificial lights.
Another strategy is to take a “test picture” with your camera because it will pick up more of what’s going on in the sky than the naked eye. If that photo shows some of the aurora on the horizon, it’s time to get out of city limits and into a rural area to see the show.
Kallaway says he views the lights like sportsmen view hunting or fishing- the chase is just as good as the catch. “There is always this wonderful anticipation of catching the fish, but there are a lot of times [when] you will not catch the fish. Northern Lights chasing is the same thing.”
Those who want to take in the next Northern Lights show should start by joining a Facebook group like Aurora Hunters. There are also mobile apps that track metrics and tell you when the next show could come.
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