Aware the Northern Lights may be visible in the night sky, a Guelph man headed out of town to take them in on Monday and, thanks to some photo editing, captured a beautiful display.
Raghuvamsh Chavali set up near the corner of 5th Line and Guelph/Eramosa Townline at about 10 p.m.
“Our initial plan had been to visit Fergus, with a backup option to proceed to Innisfil if our quest to capture the Northern Lights in Fergus proved elusive,” he told GuelphToday via email. “However, serendipity smiled upon us, and we were graced with yet another breathtaking presentation of the Northern Lights during our journey.”
The spectacle, which he said also included a meteor shower, lasted about two hours.
“Amid this celestial performance, there was a particularly striking moment when a solitary streak of Northern Lights shimmered in solitary grandeur, displaying captivating hues of purple, green, and a hint of pink,” he wrote. “This vivid display unfolded against the backdrop of a towering structure.”
Chavali believes he also got to see a phenomenon known as Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE).
“It manifests as a slender, ribbon-like streak of pinkish or purplish light that accompanies the conventional green and red auroral manifestations. This celestial display is discernibly different from the typical auroras and was initially categorized as a type of aurora,” he wrote. “Given its unique visual attributes and the ongoing scientific exploration surrounding its nature, witnessing STEVE during a Northern Lights event can be regarded as an infrequent and extraordinary event, garnering interest from both aurora enthusiasts and researchers alike. “
Chavali got a local glimpse of the Northern Lights in March and when he learned they may be visible in the area once again, he decided to check it out.
“I was very much fascinated,” he said of the March appearance, noting you typically have to travel north to get a good look. “Getting them here is really exciting.”
