Is it Worth Staying Up All Night For the Aurora Borealis?
After what I experienced in the early hours of August 4th, 2024, I would say YES! It's worth staying up all night for the aurora.
Throughout the day, I kept a close eye on the aurora forecast, hoping for ideal conditions to manifest again. Still tired from my earlier excursion a few days ago, I decided to head to bed early and check the forecast if I woke up during the night. At 11:30 pm, I stumbled out of bed and checked the live feed from the Banff Aurora cam. Seeing the colorful sky, I quickly gathered my gear and headed to Piper's Lagoon, committing to stay out for the night since the best views were expected after 2 am.
Nervously, I drove to my favorite sunrise spot, Piper's Lagoon, arriving just as the gate had been locked. I spoke to a couple who were leaving, and they mentioned I had missed the show. Determined to wait it out, I grabbed my chair, tripod, and Google Pixel 7 Pro phone, and walked to the beach.
At first, not much was happening. My astrophotography time-lapse showed flickering green lights just above the horizon. Being at this beach at night for the first time, every sound heightened my alertness, probably helping me stay awake. While my phone recorded its four-minute astrophotography session, I lay on my towel, watching the starry sky. Shooting stars regularly appeared, causing me to gasp and laugh out loud, while covering my mouth to avoid attracting attention.
By 2:30 am, I realized I had made a rookie mistake and had little charge left on my phone. Walking back to the car, I could still see the white streaks lighting up the sky above the ocean. My attempts to charge my phone weren't too successful, but they gave me time to close my eyes for a few minutes. When I returned to my spot about 45 minutes later, the height of the streaks was breathtaking, and I knew the best part of the show was yet to come.
The movement and colors rivaled what I'd seen on May 10, during another huge geomagnetic storm. This time, I was calmer and more prepared. I knew where to look and how to place my phone (horizontally is still best) and used my chair as a brace for the tripod when I needed to see more of the sky. Being alone was a stark contrast to the busy excitement of the May event. By 4 am, the dancing lights spread across the sky, making it difficult to choose where to aim my lens.
Not long after, I noticed the night shifting into day, and the aurora seemed to disappear. Hopeful that the astrophotography would reveal something different, I set it for another four minutes of data gathering. My bucket list image was captured, showing the aurora dancing above the pre-dawn horizon.
As the clock neared 5, it was time for my morning dip. Shimmering bioluminescence floated around me as I waved my hands below the water. Exhausted but exhilarated, I took my time to take in the scene before gathering my gear to head home. As I was leaving, one of my sunrise photographer buddies arrived. I shared a few photos with him and then headed home, feeling grateful for the experience. After another hour of sleep, I got up for the day, too eager to view my photos to sleep any longer. As you can see, the results were stunning.
Watch a time-lapse video here.
I'm working on a blog post about how to chase the aurora. The best way to stay in touch is to join me for a daily sunrise photo and gratitude inspiration email here. You'll also be the first to know when my 2025 Vancouver Island Seascapes calendar will be available!
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