On the night of May 10th, residents of Ahwatukee were treated to a rare and breathtaking sight: the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky. Chris Rosewell, a local photographer, captured this celestial spectacle in a stunning timelapse that has since captured the imagination of many.
Video: Chris Rosewell
Setting up his camera around 10:30-11:30 pm, Chris embarked on a mission to document the elusive phenomenon. “I sat out back for a half hour and could barely sense it,” he recalls. Undeterred, he decided to set up a timelapse shot and let his camera capture the magic while he retired for the night, crossing his fingers for a successful outcome.
The result was nothing short of spectacular. As the hours passed, Chris’s camera diligently recorded the celestial ballet unfolding above Ahwatukee. When he woke up and checked the footage, he was greeted with a mesmerizing display of the Northern Lights gracefully painting the night sky with vibrant hues of green and purple.
Chris’s timelapse serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring beauty that nature has to offer, even in unexpected places like the desert skies of Ahwatukee. His dedication to capturing this fleeting moment has provided a glimpse into the wonders of the universe, right from the comfort of our own backyard.
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are a natural light display that occurs in the Earth’s polar regions. This dazzling phenomenon is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the sun and the Earth’s magnetic field, resulting in a stunning display of colorful lights dancing across the sky.
While the Northern Lights are more commonly associated with regions like Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, they can occasionally be seen in more southerly locations during periods of heightened solar activity. Ahwatukee residents were fortunate enough to witness this celestial spectacle firsthand, thanks to the perfect combination of atmospheric conditions and solar activity.
As Chris Rosewell’s timelapse reminds us, sometimes all it takes is a moment of stillness and observation to witness the extraordinary beauty that surrounds us. In a world filled with hustle and bustle, it’s moments like these that remind us to pause, look up, and marvel at the wonders of the universe.
