26 Nebraskaland • December 2025
south component of the interplanetary
magnetic field (IMF). If the Bz is south
(a negative number), the IMF is pointed
southward and the orientation strongly
couples with Earth's northward
magnetic field, allowing solar wind
particles to stream in and fuel auroras.
If the Bz is north (a positive number),
it generally blocks solar wind from
entering Earth's magnetosphere, and
you might have a bust regardless of the
KP number.
In addition to the right atmospheric
ingredients, a dark sky, free of
moonlight and clouds, is crucial. This
also means being far away from city
light pollution that will drown out
the night sky. I've had the best luck
witnessing the lights in the Sandhills,
far from any major cities. And, of
course, you'll want to look due north.
The website darkskymap.com can be
helpful to pinpoint locations that are
untouched by city lights.
My first aurora "chase" was
spawned by a news report on June 22,
2015, which indicated the increased
likelihood of activity the following two
nights. The next evening, I set out with
my camera and drove north of Lincoln
A flashlight was used to illuminate my truck near Valentine.
May 28, 2022.
