AURORA IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS

Elusive and wild, aurora borealis is truly an artistic expression of nature. When polarized solar winds reach earth, they produce colorful lights through their interaction with the outer atmosphere. The shape of our planet directs winds to the poles, and in far-north places like Alaska or Iceland, the lights are a regular occurrence. In Northwest Montana, we see the lights during particularly intense windstorm events, when they radiate out beyond the auroral ring centered around the planet’s true north. The best and most accessible view of the aurora borealis in our region is from the lower shores of Lake McDonald, near the west entrance of Glacier National Park. Green and purple beams dancing across the sky are incredible, but seeing them reflected in the lake as well is unforgettable. Our unpolluted night sky is a conservation priority, and in 2017, the International Dark Sky Association named Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park as the world’s first transboundary international dark sky park.

Check the status at: swpc.noaa.gov