PHOTOS: Aurora, seen from West Seattle!

11:15 PM: Expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen just tweeted the news of an aurora visible right here, right now:

She had been talking earlier about the possibility, and we were about to fold it in with some beautiful sunset photos we’d received, when she called to say it’s happening now. Here are her viewing tips (main one, “always look north”). More to come!

11:23 PM: If you’re interested in expert guidance while trying to get a look at the aurora, Alice is considering heading to Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW).

12:35 AM: Alice reports an International Space Station sighting too.

12:50 AM: She’s moving on to Myrtle Reservoir Park.

ADDED 7:11 AM SUNDAY MORNING: More photos – first, from Jason Enevoldsen:

And from Jamie Kinney:

13 Replies to "PHOTOS: Aurora, seen from West Seattle!"

  • newnative May 28, 2017 (9:52 am)

    That is more than I saw from north Admiral. I saw a faint band but no color. 

    • Alice May 28, 2017 (12:17 pm)

      Since our eyes are less sensitive to color at night, detecting the color can be a challenge without a camera doing long exposures. The more practice you get the easier it becomes.

  • Alice May 28, 2017 (12:18 pm)

    It was exhilarating, even though it was a minor show compared to photos I’ve seen from places near the Arctic and Antarctic circles.

  • ltfd May 28, 2017 (3:47 pm)

    Thank you for the photos!

  • ChickenLittler May 28, 2017 (3:58 pm)

    Forget about the Aurora, what about that gigantic hand with the pointing finger!!! Now I’m scared …

    • KD May 29, 2017 (1:48 am)

      😂😄😆

  • LyndaB May 28, 2017 (5:23 pm)

    Will we get to see it again tonight?

    • WSB May 28, 2017 (5:39 pm)

      I’m waiting to hear from Alice on that but looking around, it *appears* this was a one-time-only thing. I could be wrong. From what I’m reading,it was apparently kind of a surprise even to the experts that the “coronal mass ejection” that caused it would lead to this strong of a storm!

  • Brogan from Seattle May 28, 2017 (11:01 pm)

    Ah for all who are interested….I saw these last night for two reasons.

    A. I always say KEEP LOOKING UP….. and have seen AB 20 some times from various…Snoqualmie, Chelan, BC and then have scoped the easy system for Seattlites …-Fairbanks…. Been twice this year, again in Oct, and setting up a tour for friends March 2018.  Been 3 of 4 nights and 5 of 5 so far . Multiple shows, like hours almost wild fire like…watch out those trees in the East. Yikes.

    so heck what I really wanted to comment…aand now prob every one has stopped reading……..YOU should sign up to the Alberta AURORA ALERT  deal.

    last night got the alert…..looked out window..like I do anyway….yup.

    hey can I put screen shot?

    link … http://www.aurorawatch.ca/content/view/26/60/

  • Brogan from Seattle May 28, 2017 (11:03 pm)

    So look at the Alert Data…nearly 100% chance….guess what, thems good odds.  Full Red Alert last night…

  • Raye May 29, 2017 (2:23 am)

    That giant pointing finger? It’s The Fickle Finger of Fate! Thanks for the laugh, Chickenlittler. Don’t worry, the sky isn’t falling!

  • Betty_the_yeti May 31, 2017 (7:44 pm)

    Thanks for link Brogan.

  • Jennifer June 12, 2017 (5:07 pm)

    … along about the time I was in Winnipeg and contemplating my then-very-soon path to Flin Flon, Manitoba, I happened to click on WSB from my phone only to see news of this, from home.

    I’m not hell-bent on seeing the Northern Lights, but I was certainly aware that Flin Flon’s northern latitude (sunset 10:13pm, and now even later) might help to bring about such  a scenario at least at some point during the year, if not during my brief visit.

    It was amusing to see this story from so far away.

Sorry, comment time is over.