This is what it should have looked like this weekend. All the variables looked as though they’d line up. The sky was clear. No bright moon to mess up the sky. Somewhat unsettled atmosphere. Clint out standing in the field (no puns, please) with his camera equipment. The POES statistical plot showed a strong possibility of visible Northern Lights in this area. Sadly, nothing showed.

Not to mention that it was pretty darn COLD and windy, but it’s worth a try…right? If I may whine for a brief instant, I’ll take the opportunity to point out that my purchase of camera equipment capable of astrophotography coincides directly with the Solar Minimum. I’ve seen auroras so bright I could read by them, but it doesn’t look like any of those will show up for another couple of years at least. But when they do, I’ll be there. And the evidence will be posted here.

The photo above, by the way, I took near Hawktree last fall. They were originally their typical turquoise green but I changed the hue to blue in Photoshop because this image in its original size is the background for my computer monitors. In the original one can clearly make out the round hay bale in the foreground. I also have one with a BIG owl perched on that bale, but this one turned out better.