THE AURORA What are you even doing?

The question gets asked daily in the various facebook groups dedicated to hunting the elusive Aurora Borealis. "Will I be able to see the lights (insert "tonight, next Tuesday, or next fall on my trip to ?")

While it is possible to predict the likelihood of auroral activity, it is difficult to predict exactly when and where the Northern Lights will be visible on any particular night. The Aurora is affected by many different factors, are typically only visible in certain locations and under specific conditions, and like all natural phenomena, they can be difficult to predict with complete accuracy. Sorta like predicting what kind of mood your spouse will be in when you tell them you are going out for hours on end to "hunt for the Aurora." While scientists continue to study and learn more, there is still much that is not fully understood about the Northern Lights, or marital relationships for that matter.

Avid aurora photographer and advocate of dark skies, Angela Botner, so kindly gave us permission to share her take on how to see them and what to do with your camera when you do in these helpful, tongue-in-cheek charts.

If you missed the latest Aurora super show on March 23, I assume your spouse wasn't having any of your bullshit Or you were in the wrong place at the wrong time According to Earthsky org, "people reported seeing the aurora as far south as Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Virginia " Poor souls in a line stretching from central Iowa east to the lower peninsula of Michigan were not as lucky A cloud bank hung over the area all evening, dashing any hopes of seeing the aurora except as a faint glow for a fleeting moment LAME

For those that did see the lights, it was an amazing experience (or so I gather from the hundreds of gushing photographers littering up my social media feed that night.)

Angela Bottner told us that she had a unique vantage point for viewing and capturing the show- over open water. She lives on a springfed lake and grabbed some amazing shots.

Angela also told us about efforts to create a Dark Sky Park in Northwestern Wisconsin. You can learn more about that and support the project at NW Wisconsin Dark Sky Park Project

Angela talks about the abundance of wildlife, especially birds that visit the lake she lives on-

No birds were hit with sticks in the course of our research on this subject. "Douglas County Wildlife Area is located between Solon Springs and Gordon in Douglas County. The property is approximately 4,005 acres of pine barrens. Bird life is dominated by species, which require extensive open landscapes." - Wisconsin DNR

It's show time, and the vendors are prepping for another season of expos, shows, rendezvous, rallys, meetups and more. As attendees, here are a few points or pleas that we would like to make to vendors