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The aurora borealis is high on my list of the most fabled natural phenomenon you can witness in Minnesota. Seasoned outdoors people may casually recall seeing the northern lights during a trip to the Boundary Waters, but for many, catching a glimpse can be a challenging task. 

I love the chase. As a new photojournalist at MPR News, one of my goals is to share my love for the state’s natural wonders. A

 potent solar storm is forecast to crash into the Earth

 Wednesday and there is significant potential for aurora displays to be seen as far south as Iowa.

MPR News editor Andrew Krueger is an experienced aurora-chaser (and excellent photographer in his own right). He shared some terrific advice on 

He also stresses that the aurora is notoriously hard to predict. 

Tonight, I’m gearing up to chase the aurora in southern Minnesota. I’ll walk you through my preparations, the equipment I’m bringing and what sources I use to pinpoint my target chase area.

First, and not to be too self-referential here, Andrew is one of the sources that tipped me off to the upcoming aurora display potential. Here’s a tweet he shared yesterday:

Knowing rain has been in the forecast for most of the week, I used the weather models at 

 to check for potential cloud cover. Here’s a look at the forecast cloud cover at 11 p.m. tonight based on the HRRR’s modeling.

Now that I know where I can go to (hopefully) avoid clouds, 

 and cross-reference the darkest locations displayed on the map. This helps me locate a spot with the least amounts of light pollution from nearby towns. 

Lastly, here’s a quick breakdown of the primary camera gear I’m using:

Generally, I set my exposure to keep the shutter speed as short as possible. This means opening up the aperture and raising the ISO, or digital sensitivity. 

I find that shorter exposures help freeze the transient features of the aurora — the pillars, rays, and sweeping arcs. Longer exposures tend to blur the lights together into an amorphous blob of color.

For the July aurora display, I used the following settings: lens set to 16mm, aperture at f/2.8, ISO 6400, and a 6” shutter speed.

In addition to the camera equipment, I also make sure to pack a headlight, bugspray, warm layers, camp chair and a notebook for recording exposure settings. 

Not convinced you’re ready to photograph the aurora on your own? 

 as I document my chase — but remember, a forecasted display isn’t a certainty! It takes planning, diligence, and luck to catch a glimpse of the magical lights.

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Ben Hovland

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MPR News Photojournalist Ben Hovland is geared up for an aurora borealis chase, the fabled natural phenomenon you can witness in Minnesota. He shares his tips with us.

Courtesy of Ben Hovland 

A forecast display of future cloud cover over the midwest

Aurora chasing with MPR News

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