Over the past year, I’ve been tracking solar storms and the Kp-index to help me photograph the colorful lights of the aurora borealis. These measurements give me a better sense of when conditions might be strong enough to produce visible activity.

It’s an elusive natural phenomenon, especially difficult to catch here in southern Wisconsin. Clear skies (with exceptions), timing, and geomagnetic strength all have to align, which makes each opportunity feel like a success.

I think the rarity makes chasing the lights even more enjoyable. Each attempt teaches me something new about both the science and the experience of observing them. I hope you enjoy this small gallery of images from 11/11/25, it was a magical night for me.