Southern Ontario's Spectacular Northern Lights: Chasing Aurora Borealis Across the Region

Observing the Northern Lights is a captivating experience, characterized by the anticipation of their unpredictable appearance, contingent upon favorable weather conditions, minimal light pollution, the presence of an appealing foreground subject, and numerous other influencing factors.

On September 18, 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to capture the Northern Lights, dedicating approximately two hours to this mesmerizing spectacle, starting at 10 p.m. and concluding at 12:30 a.m. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Our original plan was to visit Fergus and, if luck wasn't on our side in terms of capturing the Northern Lights there, continue our journey to Innisfil. However, during our trip, we were treated to yet another astonishing display of the beautiful Northern Lights in the night sky.

I consistently make an effort to ensure a compelling foreground element in my Northern Lights photography, often relying on trees. However, this time, I opted for a long electric tower as my foreground subject, and it truly elevated the entire composition, making the frame exceptionally striking.

In addition to the awe-inspiring Northern Lights, I was also fortunate to witness a meteor shower, with meteors streaking down from the night sky, creating a truly mesmerizing celestial display.

During our experience, there was a distinct instance when a singular streak of Northern Lights shimmered in isolated splendor, its hues ranging from captivating shades of purple, green, and a hint of pink, all set against the backdrop of the towering structure. This was a truly enchanting sight, and it marked my first encounter with such a mesmerizing phenomenon. The fact which I learnt during this adventure was the streak is called STEVE, which stands for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement,

From Google Search, I learnt that STEVE presents a relatively uncommon and distinctive phenomenon linked with the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis.

It manifests as a slender, ribbon-like streak of pinkish or purplish light that accompanies the conventional green and red auroral manifestations. This celestial display is discernibly different from the typical auroras and was initially categorized as a type of aurora. However, contemporary research suggests that it constitutes a distinct atmospheric occurrence. STEVE is often observed at higher latitudes, including regions in Canada and the northern United States, particularly during geomagnetic storms. Nonetheless, it doesn't occur as frequently or receive as widespread attention as the more familiar and well-studied auroras.

Given its unique visual attributes and the ongoing scientific exploration surrounding its nature, witnessing STEVE during a Northern Lights event can be regarded as an infrequent and extraordinary event, garnering interest from both aurora enthusiasts and researchers alike.