Chasing Northern Lights at Texas on October 5th, 2024

Northern Lights: Our Road Trip Adventure

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share some exciting plans we have for this weekend. With recent solar flares making headlines, there’s a chance we might witness some spectacular natural phenomena right here in the US, including Texas and Oklahoma. 🌞✨

What’s Happening with Solar Flares?

Recently, the sun has been quite active, releasing powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These solar events can trigger geomagnetic storms when they interact with Earth’s magnetic field, potentially causing stunning displays of the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis

How Can This Happen?

Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation from the sun. When these flares are accompanied by CMEs, they send charged particles hurtling towards Earth. If these particles collide with our planet’s magnetosphere, they can create beautiful auroras.  The conditions needed for this include a strong solar flare, clear skies, and minimal light pollution.

Spotting the Northern Lights

To catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, you’ll need to be in a dark area away from city lights. The best time to see them is usually between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Keep an eye on space weather forecasts and look northwards for the best chance of spotting these lights.

Our Road Trip Plan

We’re hitting the road at 3 p.m. with our crew: Alison, Memito, Jimmy, and possibly Donnie and his wife. Of course, our furry friends, Cloe (Alison’s pug) and Max (my dog), are coming along too! 🐾

Saturday:

  • Drive to Lawton, Oklahoma: We’ll be staying at a cozy Airbnb.
  • Sunset at Wichita Mountains: After arriving, we’ll head to the Wichita Mountains to catch the sunset and snap some photos of the buffaloes.
  • Northern Lights Chase: Later at night, we’ll drive back to the Wichita Mountains to try and spot the Northern Lights if the conditions are right.

Sunday:

  • Morning Buffalo Spotting: We’ll start the day early, looking for buffaloes again.
  • Hiking: Afterward, we’ll hit one of the many trails in the Wichita Mountains for a refreshing hike.
  • Return to Dallas: We’ll head back home, hopefully with lots of great memories and photos.

Stay tuned for updates and wish us luck on our adventure! 🌌📸

 

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