Northern lights dazzle Westman skies By: Matt Goerzen, editor Posted: Last Modified:

Using a night sky cell phone application, I had been watching for forecasts of strong aurora borealis over the past few weeks, and this Labour Day weekend has not disappointed.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/09/2022 (1460 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Using a night sky cell phone application, I had been watching for forecasts of strong aurora borealis over the past few weeks, and this Labour Day weekend has not disappointed.

On Saturday night, the forecast was particularly strong, so I set out for one of my favourite haunts along the shores of Lake Clementi, which is just along the southern edge of the Brandon Hills.

Most of the images are open shutter for about nine to 12 seconds, using a bulb setting on the Brandon Sun camera.

Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

If you have some time to get out under the night skies, and the clouds stay away, the aurora forecast remains strong for the next several nights, including tonight. Find yourself a very dark sky away from any large communities and light pollution, and let your eyes get accustomed to the lack of light. You’ll probably see some stunning skies.

 

Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are illuminated with a cell phone flashlight against the backdrop of shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are illuminated with a cell phone flashlight against the backdrop of shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
The northern lights in the skies over Manitoba, as seen along the shores of Lake Clementi, south of Brandon, on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
The northern lights in the skies over Manitoba, as seen along the shores of Lake Clementi, south of Brandon, on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bird houses along the shores of Lake Clementi, located south of Brandon, MB, are silhouetted against the shimmering northern lights in the skies over western Manitoba on Saturday night. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
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