On the Road: Out late with the stars and smoke

It looked like it was going to be a good night.

Heading south and west I could see the orange rind of a half moon in front of me while off to the east, lightning glowed in the retreating clouds. A thundershower had just passed through the hills by Millarville and, driving along with the windows rolled down, the air smelled amazing.

I was headed this way because the forecast was calling for smoke to roll in overnight. I had previously figured on heading out to Dry Island Buffalo Jump in the morning but once I saw the smoke signal I figured it would be pointless to go take pictures of that gorgeous river valley obscured in a grey miasma. And besides that, I’d gotten an email alert that there might be northern lights.

A solar outburst was about to reach our planet and bring with it an auro