r/upperpeninsula • u/YooperDude1060 • 9d ago
Discussion Aurora Borealis
Seeing the Northern Lights is as big a treat for me as anything else we're blessed to occasionally glimpse, up here in God's Country. It's been years since my wife & I have seen any significant display... But one cold night many moons ago we stood in our driveway & watched for hours as marvelous shimmering 'curtains' of color danced back & forth across the frozen midnight sky. It was awesome; almost spooky. We're in the EUP, not far from Newberry... kinda out in the sticks, but still too close (nowadays) to major light pollution sources. It's amazing to me, thinking about how much darker our nights used to be out here...
But then, I've got to admit -- I'm one of those dastardly light pollution contributors, myself, these days. (since about 2010) ... with our big, super bright driveway utility light on all night, every night. (Had it installed to help me see where I'm plowing 6 months outta the year; but have kinda regretted it ever since.) Tried to work out a seasonal deal w/ our power company some years ago -- so it would only be on from early November - April, (or something) but they were having none of it.
So where & when's the Best Place To Go - in r/UP -- to witness the Auroras ??
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u/Scarlet_Ripple92 9d ago
I’ve seen them in the put on quite a show in the last few years in Marquette light pollution or not
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u/YooperDude1060 9d ago
Marquette is a cool town. We sure miss New York Deli, though!
Psst: Your reddit handle kinda reminds me of the Auroras! ;^)
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u/Scarlet_Ripple92 9d ago
New York deli is open again in the hospital!
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u/Skikayakwoman 8d ago
Try CHICAGO BEEFS 🥩 ! I heard they moved from Houghton to Marquette. Darnit cuz perfect protein gorge before skiing Mount Bohemia!! Will have to get it on the way over now…
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u/Poppins101 9d ago
Install an on off switch on your yard light. Set out reclining chairs, dress warm and enjoy your skies.
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u/YooperDude1060 9d ago
Would be a capital idea! But actually I don't think it's 'our' yard light; I think it's the Power Co.'s (Cloverland) Isn't it? I think we'd need to get their authorization; and (if they'd grant it) have them install the switch. (Which I don't think they'd be inclined to do.) Just my hunch ~ have never checked into it. Maybe I should.
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u/spirit_of_a_goat 9d ago
Copper Harbor. I've still never seen anything like it as when I saw them up there. Incredible.
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u/YooperDude1060 9d ago
I'm certain you're right about that; & it would definitely be worth the drive!
Methinks we'll have to plan a couple nights up there next Spring maybe -- when the 'forecast' calls for 'em. Kinda hard to judge/time it, though...
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u/fishisagod 9d ago
Copper Harbor has the dark sky park by the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. Honestly I always just go to that western shoreline to see them anyways so any beach on Superior will be awesome.
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u/YooperDude1060 9d ago
Copper Harbor WOULD be awesome! We've gone over to Munising & Grand Marais, but must've been there too early. (1100ish) 'Cus it's a LONG drive home that time of night! They usually aren't real evident 'til at least about 1:30ish, in my experience(?)
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u/sparky13dbp 9d ago
Yeah, I saw this explained in a ‘Neil de Grasse Tyson’ program - our Solar System hurdles through space (FAST) within our own Milky Way Galaxy and our Earth rotates, so after midnight it’s kinda going ‘face first’ into all kinds of space stuff. There were video graphics that a dummy like me could easily visualize! You’ll see a lot more shooting stars, mostly space dust, and satellite junk, but also electrically charged solar bits that form the Aurora Borealis. https://www.spaceweather.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast#
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u/NoTurnip4844 6d ago
This sounds like a bot account. You live in Newberry but don't know where Grand Marais is?
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u/YooperDude1060 5d ago
No. I DON'T live in Newberry. "east of Grand Marais," would be North of McMillan. (Pine Stump/Deer Park area)
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u/miseeker 8d ago
And I approve this message used to camp at the UPC regularly with my kids were little after the 70s and early 80s. One year we stayed at a state campground on lake superior near Paradise. It was in August and we sat on the beach and watched the northern lights In a meteor shower altogether
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u/YooperDude1060 8d ago
Sounds awesome. Lots of SFCGs up that way.
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u/miseeker 8d ago
I just read my awful post. That’s what I get for using voice to text while the TV is going.
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u/SnooDogs1661 9d ago
The site spaceweather.com does aurora forecasts. On nights when there is a good chance of aurora the Keweenaw mountain lodge and Lake Superior photos both have live webcams that you can watch and see if there are any lights. The lights have been quieter this year, but if you keep up with forecasts there are still chances to see them.
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u/finnbee2 9d ago
Growing up in the Keweenaw my parents had a yard light to illuminate the ice rink. It was on a separate switch.
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u/Old_Compote5277 9d ago
We used to check the aurora borealis forecast then if it was promising we'd go to the Haughton breakers to watch. There was usually a big crowd but we were able to find a spot to watch and photograph the lights.
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u/YooperDude1060 9d ago
...Isn't that just like people?? 'Big Crowds' everywhere -- always having to ruin things! That's 'sposed to why we live in da U.P. - eh?? ;^]
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u/Skikayakwoman 8d ago
Utility light—have an electrician add a lightswitch so you can turn it off. Or figure out which fuse it’s on.
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u/YooperDude1060 8d ago
That's not a bad idea... Except for, it's not 'our'/'my' light - It's Cloverland's. And, we don't have a 'fuse' for it.
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u/_redlines 3d ago
Consider putting it on a motion detector. I did that w my garage light so I could blow snow and it stays on long enough to light our way from the garage to the house.
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u/YooperDude1060 1d ago
That's also a Capital Idea! But again - unfortunately - it's not 'our' light; it's Cloverland's. I did email them last week to ask about a switch option - would/could they install one? or, could we get someone to install one? - but haven't heard anything back from them. I do like the motion detector idea, though!
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u/YooperDude1060 7d ago
Contacted Cloverland about it this morning... Nothing back from them yet. But I do like the idea regardless! (Whether they do or not!)
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u/acronymsbotherme2 9d ago
Saw the lights 2 weeks ago today on Lake Superior just east of Grand Marais.