COLORADO’S AURORA BOREALIS
On May 11, 2024, I found myself unable to sleep, a rare occurrence for me. The reason for my restlessness was the mesmerizing northern lights, or aurora borealis, unexpectedly visible in Colorado for the first time. I have always been intrigued by this natural phenomenon, but I had never traveled to places where it could be observed. As tired as I was, the thought of photographing this rare event kept me tossing and turning in bed.
Eventually, my restlessness became too disruptive, and I decided to get up and seize the moment. I headed west toward Glenwood Springs, hoping to capture some unique perspectives of the aurora rather than the typical skyward shots. The phenomenon, caused by solar particles colliding with Earth's atmosphere, was visible in Colorado due to an unusually strong solar storm. Between the canyons of Glenwood, I captured some stunning lights, the colors dancing in the sky like a vivid dream. Despite the excitement, the rest area parking lot was eerily quiet, with only a handful of cars present. But no one was seen outside their vehicles. I grabbed my tripod and camera, walking in the pitch darkness, yet the sky was so different and bright, filled with colorful lights visible to the naked eye.
After taking a few shots, I drove east, stopping at various points along the way. By this time, it was already the early morning hours, around 2:45 am. The highway remained quiet as I decided to head to a familiar spot near my workplace in Minturn.
I then drove down to the back roads and ended up below the Red Cliff Bridge. The colors were extraordinary, and at 3:41 am, after capturing several shots, I decided to call it a night. The northern lights were beautiful and spectacular, a once-in-a-lifetime sight in Colorado.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, have been visible in Colorado on rare occasions before, most recently in March and February 2023. These sightings are linked to strong geomagnetic storms, which can push the aurora further south than usual. Such events are exceptional in Colorado due to its southern latitude, but heightened solar activity during these periods allows the aurora to be seen further south. Source: Westword & 9News
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Yet another scene from the Green Bridge. See and read the ‘From Red Cliff to the Milky Way’ photo story.