10/11/2024
After hearing about this intense solar storm, I headed back to Washington Pass, arriving late in the afternoon with plenty of time to scout for the perfect spot. The sky was hazy, and with no signal, I couldn’t check the weather patterns or keep up with the ever-changing aurora forecasts. I decided to keep driving east, scouting for potential north-facing compositions. About 30 minutes later, I finally regained signal and pulled over to check my apps. The aurora numbers looked unreal—not just ideal for north-facing compositions but suggesting a rare chance to capture the aurora above the Liberty Bell. Go ahead, Google it; until last night, I hadn’t found any images of such a scene.
I raced back to the Washington Pass Observation area, set up, and waited for what I hoped would be a once-in-a-lifetime display. As soon as the sun set, the skies exploded with breathtaking light, giving me goosebumps, even though it wasn’t quite in the direction I’d planned. Later, as a brief lull in the lights led some observers to head home, those of us who stayed were rewarded around 10 p.m. when the sky erupted once more—a symphony of light patterns slashing and dancing above, stretching southward to illuminate the sky above the iconic Liberty Bell. The crowd’s gasps and exclamations only added to the magic, as we all realized we were witnessing something extraordinary. I don’t know if I’ll ever get this lucky again, but the good Lord knows I’m grateful.
