And the aurora predictions were looking good (but I was still scared, at the same time, I could do Milky Way pics)
I packed up my car, brough sleep stuff (cuz we get rooms too, as part of this deal) and headed out under cloudy / rainy skies. We had already been told that there had been a lot of rain at the Long Lake Conservation Center and that we could not park on the viewing field (think astronomers with huge telescopes).
Along the way, the clouds started to clear and the sun came out… but behind me was still dark. On impulse, I quickly found a pull over spot and found the rainbow! The location was dreamy but that wasn’t my goal.
Clear skies were coming, evening was coming, and the aurora forecast and numbers were still good.
Arrived at LLCC and was made introductions and told them I was heading down to the lake with my friend Christy, who had already arrived. (Whom I met through Kristine’s free Milky Way Master course!)
Got down to the lake before dark and tried to explore. The beach was not pointing north, but I knew that when I used PlanitPro (thanks Kristine!!). The spots I had found on opposite sides of the lake were drenched and soaked (I love my Sketcher hiking boots that I treated with mink oil, no leaks). There was no way I could safely get my camera equipment to either of these locations.
I figured I would set up on the beach and hope for something not too hidden behind the trees. The other locations will wait for a drier day sometime in the future.
I joined a astronomy club just so I could have free easy access to Bortle 2 skies (Darker skies).
The Minnesota Astronomical Society has a contract with a Conservation Center far north of the twin cities.
I joined in January but sadly each time there was a MAS weekend at LLCC, I was sick, I had other plans, or it was cloudy.
Finally, the perfect week arrived.
This date was on the books since 2023.
May 10-13
Night came and so did Lady Aurora, and as we all know, she danced and danced and danced. Even though my beach was not pointed north, she was everywhere, and this wonderful image composite was brought to fruition. The sky is only lightly enhanced and the reflection was my third ever attempt at doing reflections (again, thank you Kristine!)
I stayed up with lady Aurora and the rest of the club members until the songbirds started to sing.
What a magical night!