Last evening, my wife and I found ourselves on a remote country road in northeast Colorado, waiting in the chilly air for the fiery sunset to fade from the western sky. Joined by a skittish flock of horned larks and serenaded by a clan of coyotes, we were anxious to see the first signs of the Aurora Borealis that was forecast to reach northern and central latitudes of the U.S. Biding or time, we watched the crescent moon descend toward the Rockies as a parade of aircraft headed for Denver International Airport.
Remaining in place for two hours, we did observe a broad swath of faint color across the northern horizon (photo by my wife), which was more evident on photos than with the human eye. Not nearly as dramatic as those sent in by family and friends in other parts of the country, we'll still take it as a success.
After all, we have sought the Northern Lights in Iceland, Newfoundland, Scotland, Northern Michigan, Vancouver Island and Southeastern Alaska without success. Since the peak of the 11-year solar cycle occurs in July of 2025, more opportunities will surely arise (at least we hope so).
