This photo was captured by my niece Laura during last night's worldwide aurora borealis show.
Laura works for the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe, and the photo was taken on Tribal grounds.
Great photo, Laura.
Friday Night Lights were out of this world last evening.
Granted, some, like those above, were adding night-time color to one of my flower beds.
Most of those jaw-dropping spectacular light shows, however, truly were "out of this world" in millions of ways.
Spectators photographic keepsakes all depended on where they watched the skies and also on what tangible and magical images happened to be in their range of view.
Much of the world united as respective time-zone skies lit up.
I even stayed up past my bed time to participate in this universal wonderment.
Like many, I first heard about the solar storm on the news yesterday.
With suggestions that this would be the most intense outer space storm in 20 years and that aurora borealis would be amazing through much of the world and even as far south as Alabama in the U.S., I took note and decided I could sacrifice some beauty rest.
So, after a fun evening at Matchwood with Willie, Debbie and two food bank regulars, Kat and Diane, we headed home.
For once, I wished that darkness would please come sooner.
It did not.
As one who goes to bed with and gets up with the chickens, I was amazed how long daylight is lasting now.
First, I walked down the lane to open area near the far shed. I sat on the metal surface behind the horse trailer hitch. It wasn't too comfortable, but I lasted for about 20 minutes.
Much anticipated but slowly developing darkness took on the metaphor of watching grass growing.
Bridie hung out with me for a while, and Bill stayed around the barn watching Foster.
Finally, Bridie had waited long enough and left.
About that time, I started detecting an odor too much like skunk.
So, I walked back down the lane and told Bill I would take the car and the dogs to the viewing spot.
Twas much more comfortable and offered less chance to get inadvertently sprayed by skunk.
Still, the sky seemed much too bright. I could still see clouds.
While sitting there, I heard vehicles go down the road and wondered if some were filled with peeps out looking for their own viewing perch.
I also wondered how many other humans were already positioned somewhere outside at this time of night, waiting and waiting, just like me.
The dogs eventually went to sleep, and, although my patience to keep sitting there was waning, I kept remembering what a waste it would be to give up on the waiting when the best is surely yet to come.
I don't know if I saw the best of the northern lights show, but I saw enough to feel a sense of awe and to once more remember how insignificant we mere humans are in the grand scheme of things.
Nobody on Earth was controlling this light show, and, when I viewed the many photos taken by Facebook friends last night, I thought whoever was in charge did a damn fine job of providing each and every one of us our own unique visual thrills.
My photos turned out so-so, but they reflect my individual experience in this super solar storm show. Around the world, the awe prevailed and that awe was photographed.
Oh, those iPhones had to be busy last night, capturing photos and sending photos to Facebook feeds.
Too bad there's no Nielson rating to determine how many millions in a perched in a multitude of earthly nooks and crannies tuned in for the show.
No advertising.
No cost.
No commentary.
No editorial interference.
No reminder of the less-than-awesome daily happenings on here Earth.
The show featured ubiquitous awe expressed through virtually every photo posted on Facebook from throughout the world.
So, thanks to whoever set up this solar storm show.
It was truly a magnificent phenomenon and the universality of positivity it promoted is probably unparalleled but inspiring.
And, the best part: we're supposed to have another show tonight.
Happy Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment