Chasing the Northern lights in Ontario

There is something magical about the first time you see the Northern Lights. For me it was a peek of green dancing through the light pollution that radiated from Pembroke, Ontario on the northern horizon. I had just jumped on a Skype call when I heard shouting outdoors. I asked my caller if I could call back shortly, grabbed my glasses, and raced down the stairs of the century-old farmhouse I was renting with classmates.  I stood out in the cold November evening in my bare feet, mesmerized. The Northern Lights don’t often make it as south as Pembroke and I didn’t want to miss a minute. If they charge up your imagination and are on your bucket list to see, a little planning can go a long way to striking them off your list.

What are the Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis)?

One can only imagine what our early ancestors must have thought of these ethereal lights in greens, blues, and reds shimmering across the sky. Are they dancing human spirits? Omens of war? Fires in the Far North? We now know of course that particles discharged from heavy solar activity – solar flares, winds, sunspots, and the like – interact with molecules in the Earth’s magnetosphere, generating the light-show as the molecules emit light.  We in the northern hemisphere are not the only lucky ones. The aurora can be seen in the southern hemisphere as well and are known as Aurora australis.

Where can I see them in Ontario?

While north of the 65^th parallel is still your best bet for catching a glimpse of the aurora, there are a few places closer to home with reduced light pollution that offer a good chance of seeing them if a solar event cooperates.

Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve

This conservation area outside of Gravenhurst and southeast of Bala, has carried the dark-sky preserve designation from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) since 1999. The province administers the preserve’s 1,990 hectares (~4,900 acres) of Crown land which is surrounded by either protected or undeveloped land, creating a virtual absence of light pollution only two hours away from Toronto. Go early in the day and explore the areas of exposed Precambrian Shield, observe diverse and endangered flora and fauna, or take in nearby Muskoka before the sun sets.

For more details, see our Torrance Barrens page

Admission Free. Open year-round. Location: Southwood Road (District Road 13), Torrance, Ontario P0C 1M0.

Gordon’s Park Eco Resort, Manitoulin Island

Gordon’s Park also has a 2008, RASC-designated dark sky preserve as part of their property. When astronomers are onsite for viewings only red lights are allowed in the preserve, meaning no white lights are permitted as they reduce night vision.  The eco resort hosts a number of astronomy clubs, stargazing parties, meteor shower viewings, and Aurora Borealis weekends during the warmer months. Check their calendar before you go.

Check gordonspark.com for rates. Open April to October. 18777 Ontario 6, Manitowaning, ON P0P 1N0.

Lake Superior

Light pollution is vastly reduced on the North Shore of Lake Superior and beyond. The North of Superior Tourism Association recommends a country drive along Highway 588 outside of Thunder Bay, from Stanley to Suomi Village to take in the Northern Lights. This time of year, be sure to check road conditions before you go.

How can I plan to see them?

Keep an eye on spaceweather.com which provides content on everything astronomical from seeing the Christmas comet to current conditions on the sun to how wide the Auroral oval is over the Earth. Also monitor cleardarksky.com which generates a 46-hour astronomer’s forecast, predicting cloud cover, transparency based on the amount of vapour in the air, ‘seeing’ or how detailed the astronomical features will be, and darkness of a given area assuming no light pollution and a clear sky. Charts for a number of locations in Ontario can be found here: http://cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/Ontario_charts.html

Check forecasts for your area, keep your eyes on the sky, and good luck in your hunt.

By Kate Ming-Sun

Other helpful links:

• Softservenews.com provides real time aurora forecast and alerts.
• Darksitefinder.com shows you areas with light pollution.