2024 will be remembered as a banner year for aurora chasers. With two colossal geomagnetic storms and countless smaller shows, the skies danced with light from pole to prairie. I was lucky enough to witness one of the most electrifying displays during the G4 storm in October, standing beneath the heavens in Iceland.
That night felt like a pilgrimage. I spent the afternoon layering up, packing food, water, blankets, and enough coffee to fuel a vigil. By 11pm, as we drove toward our chosen spot, the sky erupted. A crimson wall rose in the south—so intense it looked like the Earth itself was bleeding light. Above us, emerald ribbons twisted and shimmered, pulsing with energy. Sub-storms rolled in like waves, each one igniting the sky in a fresh blaze of green and red. Between bursts, the aurora softened, flowing like silk across the stars.
By 2am, the storm’s crescendo had passed, but the lights lingered—quiet, ethereal, and hauntingly beautiful. I stayed out until the colors faded into dawn.
The next morning was a blur. My body was exhausted, my mind foggy, but my spirit was wide awake. That night etched itself into memory—not just for the spectacle, but for the feeling of standing small beneath something so vast, so alive.
Iceland
