Photo essay

Northern Lights Over Marblehead, Massachusetts: Photographing the October 2024 Aurora

An October night, six stops around Marblehead, and a northern lights display I will never forget.

Photographs and words by Mark Katz · October 13, 2024

Marblehead Lighthouse framed by trees beneath pink and green northern lights

I’ve wanted to see the northern lights for as long as I can remember. There is a certain mystique about the phrase itself- the Aurora Borealis. I’ve found it captivating, as if describing a frontier only one’s imagination could conjure. Most images I have seen of the northern lights were taken within or near the arctic circle. I figured if I'd ever want to see them, I'd have to pack up and make that journey. And I planned on doing it. The world is a large and mysterious place. I was keen on putting on my explorer hat and witnessing something completely unusual.  

The nights before October 10

I missed the aurora event in May, the one that was so powerful it could be seen in Florida. And the week before the October 10 display, a long-duration northern lights storm was forecast to hit but under-delivered (around here at least). Despite an active cycle and many sightings in the area, I had come up largely empty. Some aurora activity occurred on the evening of Sunday, October 6th but it coincided with my kids' bedtimes, so by the time I arrived on scene (Marblehead Light), it had all but faded. However, I caught a glimpse of it on camera. To be fair, it was a faint aurora, but it was my first encounter, and my adrenaline spiked as high as the thermosphere from which it originated.

Marblehead Lighthouse glowing green beneath a purple night sky
Marblehead Light, October 6, 2024. My first glimpse of the aurora, caught on camera as the display faded.

The following evening, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) issued an aurora alert, which was a huge surprise based on an uneventful forecast. I observed a giant purple arc in the night sky towards the east, but later learned it was actually a SAR (stable auroral red) arc. A SAR is a signature of heat transfer that takes place in the upper atmosphere, caused by strong geomagnetic storms. It wasn't an aurora, which was a bit of a letdown and felt like a consolation prize, but it was moving nonetheless. It just wasn't the bucket-list geomagnetic event I had hoped for. However, truly fascinating was the revelation of layers of our atmosphere that are normally invisible. One can only imagine how observations like this were interpreted by ancient civilizations.

Marblehead Lighthouse and its green beam beneath a purple night sky
Purple arc above the grassy earthworks at Fort Sewall in Marblehead
Fort Sewall during the earlier October outing, when a purple arc appeared in the eastern sky.

The next morning, I saw multiple reports of aurora sightings which occurred 45 minutes after I had gone home. It made me realize how difficult they are to spot and how fickle, unpredictable, and temperamental they can be. Aurora hunting at the 42nd latitudinal parallel seemed like a fool’s game. Determined to see this celestial wonder in better form, I kept the NOAA alerts on and was motivated by the fact that solar activity was expected to remain high into 2025.

For more from the earlier outings, read my account of the October 6–7 aurora sightings in Marblehead.

Then on Tuesday, October 8th, the alerts started ramping up again. A severe geomagnetic storm was on its way. A sizable piece of plasma was ejected from the Sun and hurled directly towards Earth. The eruption was associated with an X1.8 solar flare from sunspot AR 3848. The ejected plasma would wind up traveling roughly 93 million miles in about two days, setting off the geomagnetic storm behind the display. I never knew we had such detailed data on the Sun. Nor did I know what I would be in for, but prepared a list of places in town that would pair well with a north-facing aurora. Here was my itinerary:

The following six stops trace my route through Marblehead on the night of October 10, 2024.

Stop #1: Riverhead Beach

Traffic was building towards Marblehead Neck at 9:30pm; a good sign for seeing the aurora, since this has become an aurora-viewing hotspot due to its lack of light pollution. Immediately upon exiting my car, I could see the aurora! It looked a little hazy but there was a green tint to it that the photo sensor in my camera detected much better than my middle-aged eyes. Also present was a purple SAR-arc which contrasted beautifully with the aurora. Here are two shots from that location, with the second one showing home base for SUP East Coast Style.

Pink and green northern lights above beach grass and a wooden fence
Northern lights above a beach path lined with paddles and fencing
Riverhead Beach on October 10, with SUP East Coast Style in the foreground.

Stop #2: Eastern Yacht Club

While I was here, I saw the aurora go off the charts. It happened relatively quickly, with colors in the sky exploding and the lights slowly moving around. It was surreal. Components of our atmosphere were being uncloaked, parts that aren't often talked about in mainstream outlets, but are vital to our survival on earth. The northern lights were putting on a show for the ages. The next 30 minutes were extraordinary and unforgettable. Here are some of the highlights:

Green and red northern lights above the Eastern Yacht Club waterfront walkway
The waterfront at Eastern Yacht Club as the display intensified.
Northern lights framed by the underside of a pier over the harbor
Green and pink northern lights above the beach and a waterfront building
Sailboat mast silhouetted against green and pink northern lights

Stop #3: Marblehead Light

Trying to stick with my itinerary, despite the urge to hunker down and shoot here all night, I raced over to a crowded Chandler Hovey Park. The Northern Lights were still extremely active at this point. The vibe at the park was amazing. Despite Marblehead being a relatively small town, dozens of folks were at the park, in the pitch black. It felt like we were at a giant outdoor movie theater, except the screen was the sky. Experiencing the event in the company of so many people was unexpected and enjoyable.

Marblehead Lighthouse between bare trees beneath pink northern lights
Marblehead Light at Chandler Hovey Park beneath the October 10 display.
Green and pink northern lights behind trees and Marblehead Lighthouse
Marblehead Lighthouse under tall red and green bands of northern lights
Marblehead Lighthouse beyond a bench beneath the northern lights
Brick waterfront building beneath pink and green northern lights
Bare trees silhouetted against green and pink northern lights

Stop #4: Redd's Pond

Unsure how much longer this incredible display of lights would continue, I risked it and drove to Redd's Pond, eager to capture more locations in town during this extremely rare event.

Northern lights reflected on a pond beside illuminated houses
The northern lights reflected at Redd’s Pond.

Stop #5: The Shanties

Weathered wooden harbor building beneath pink northern lights
The Shanties, the fifth stop on my route through Marblehead.

Stop #6: Fort Sewall

Illuminated arched windows beneath a purple night sky
Fort Sewall, the final stop in this photographic account.