Northern Lights Over Thomas Middle School Arlington Heights; in Front of Big Dipper

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Northern Lights over Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights at 9:10 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS)
Northern Lights over Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights at 9:10 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS).

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) were visible for a short window of time as twilight ended after sunset and before cloud cover moved in about 9:20 p.m. There may be a window of opportunity again after midnight, especially between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024 when cloud cover departs the Chicago metro area.




Higher azimuth above Thomas Middle School directly north of Thomas Middle School was a more colorful display of the Northern Lights on Friday May 10, 2024 at about 9:10 p.m. (CARDINAL NEWS)
Higher azimuth above Thomas Middle School directly north of Thomas Middle School was a more colorful display of the Northern Lights on Friday May 10, 2024 at about 9:10 p.m. (CARDINAL NEWS).

If you concentrate on the colorful area and zoom in you can see that this part of the Northern Lights display was directly in front of the well known north sky constellation the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) which was in an upside down position at 9:10 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024.

The Northern Lights in front of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) in the north sky above Thomas Middle School above 40° azimuth on Friday, May 10, 2024 at   9:10 p.m. (CARDINAL NEWS)
The Northern Lights in front of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) in the north sky above Thomas Middle School above 40° azimuth on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 9:10 p.m. (CARDINAL NEWS).
A streakier violet display was visible in the northeast sky near Thomas Middle School  at 9:16 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS).
A streakier violet display was visible in the northeast sky near Thomas Middle School at 9:16 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS).

Cloud cover moved in from the west as a Waxing Crescent Moon set in the western horizon.

Cloud cover moved in by 9:25 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024 and put the display on pause in Arlington Heights; the Northern Lights might be visible again especially between 2:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS)
Cloud cover moved in by 9:25 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024 and put the display on pause in Arlington Heights; the Northern Lights might be visible again especially between 2:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS).

These photos were captured from the block of 1300 North Pine Avenue just south of the Thomas Middle School field.

The most intense probability of Aurora Borealis display may have occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. but that doesn't mean a beautiful display might not occur later after cloud cover departs around 2:30 a.m. Saturday because the night sky will be much darker (SOURCE: Space Weather Prediction Center Aurora - 30 Minute Forecast)
The most intense probability of Aurora Borealis display may have occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. but that doesn’t mean a beautiful display might not occur later after cloud cover departs around 2:30 a.m. Saturday because the night sky will be much darker (SOURCE: Space Weather Prediction Center Aurora – 30 Minute Forecast).

See also …
Space Weather Prediction Center Aurora – 30 Minute Forecast
(May be slow or timing out during intense Aurora time)

Arlingtoncardinal.com/sun

Arlingtoncardinal.com/clouds




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