Watch A Stunning Time-Lapse Video Of The Northern Lights Dance Across The Sky

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 18, 2017 6:32PM

This has been quite the banner season for heavenly wonders. Not three weeks after the Great American Solar Eclipse came news that the aurora borealis (otherwise known as the northern lights) would have a wider than usual "aurora extent," making the wondrous dancing display of light visible at points further south than usual. There was even potential for sightings right here in Chicago, on Sept. 6 and 7, although we sadly weren't able to personally catch a glimpse. Cursed urban light pollution.

But it looks like those who had the time and inclination for a few-hours road trip north were indeed in for a cosmic spectacle. Local photographer and time-lapse videographer extraordinaire Chris Biela headed to Door County, in northeast Wisconsin, a 4.5-hour drive from Chicago, in hopes of capturing a better document of the scene—and he got what he was hoping for.

"This unique opportunity to see Aurora was driving me for years and finally paid off with amazing display. One of the most beautiful natural spectacles in this world to witness and photograph," he wrote on YouTube.

Biela—who you might recall from his mesmerizing St. Patrick's Day river-dye time-lapse or the majestic one he crafted of Chicago summertime haunts—filmed the clip on the night of September 7. Hopefully you vicariously enjoy the natural psychedelia as much as we did.