The northern lights are rarely seen as far south as the southern United States. But occasionally, at times of extreme solar activity, alert skywatchers far from city lights can see the sky bathed in a reddish glow. Such was the night of November 5-6, 2001, when I took these photographs from Mt. Ord Road in central Arizona, at a latitude of 34 degrees North. The weather was terrible: cold and windy, with clouds frequently obscuring most of the sky. Also, a gibbous moon had risen, threatening to overwhelm the auroral glow. I doubted my own sanity for being out alone on such a night, but I continued to take long exposures toward the north between the clouds, knowing the film could record colors not visible to the eye. When I got my photos back, I knew that it had been worth the effort, for I had finally captured the elusive aurora.

---

10:16 p.m. MST, November 5, 2001 (05:16 11/6/01 UT). Looking N (streak above horizon is passing plane). 24mm, f/2.8, 10 minutes.
10:30 p.m. MST, November 5, 2001 (05:30 11/6/01 UT). Looking NW over Beeline Highway. 50mm, f/2, 6 minutes.
1:49 a.m. MST, November 6, 2001 (08:49 11/6/01 UT). Looking N. 24mm, f/2.8, 4 minutes.
2:12 a.m. MST, November 6, 2001 (09:12 11/6/01 UT). Looking NNW. 50mm, f/2, 4 minutes.
2:20 a.m. MST, November 6, 2001 (09:20 11/6/01 UT). Looking N over Beeline Highway. 24mm, f/2.8, 6 minutes.

---

All photos taken using Fuji Provia 100 slide film with Olympus OM-1 35mm camera on fixed tripod, scanned with Nikon Coolscan LS-10E.

Thanks to Chris Schur for calling me that evening to alert me to the auroral activity. To predict the visibility of the aurora at your location, see my Aurora Monitor Links Page.