Rhode Island Videographer Films Stunning Video of Aurora Borealis

Mother Nature has been showing off this week as a Perseid meteor shower coincided with a dazzling display of the northern lights.

Joe Morel, a Rhode Island videographer, captured the rare northern lights, or the aurora borealis, lighting up the sky on Sunday night and it was one of the brightest celestial moments he has ever captured in the Ocean State.

And we may have another chance to see it this weekend.

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What Are the Northern Lights?

According to Space, the northern lights, or the aurora borealis, are created when “energized particles from the sun slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph, but our planet’s magnetic field protects us from the onslaught.”

The dramatic process creates a magnificent display of color.

Every 11 years or so, the sun’s emissions give off extreme amounts of energy, and lucky for us, we are in a “solar maximum” where auroras are brightest.

Joe Morel has traveled to Iceland 4 times to witness the northern lights, but this time, he only needed to take a trip to Charlestown, Rhode Island.

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Rhode Island Videographer Captures Northern Lights

Joe Morel makes a living filming weddings, but in his free time, he has a passion for filming and photographing nature events.

His online page Rhode Island Image has garnered thousands of followers thanks to his eye-catching imagery. Most recently, people couldn’t get enough of his northern lights video.

“We went to Quonochontaug Pond near Ninigret Park, it has some of the darkest skies in Southern New England,” said Morel. “We were there all night, and it was incredible because the aurora borealis appeared to us at 11:11 pm that evening, and it got stronger and stronger until about 3:30 in the morning.”

At first, there were hints of color, but as the night went on, the sky transformed.

“It was a wall of red, it was insane,” he said.

When to See the Northern Lights

The northern lights may look like clouds to the naked eye, but a camera can gather the light and show its true colors. Morel shared there may be another chance to see it this weekend.

“The sun is at the peak of its activity cycle,” he said. “This weekend, look North with your cell phone and snap a long exposure photo.”

Find a place with dark skies and a clear view of the horizon. This weekend, the northern lights may show off one more time.