Quite a number of Vineyarders saw and photographed the Northern Lights on Tuesday night. The show was a spectacle, brighter than anyone expected. We used to say sighting Northern Lights here are a rare event. But, this year and looking ahead, the sun is active and sightings happen with greater frequency.

Today, the forecasting of this high above our atmosphere event is far better, more public. It gives all of us an opportunity to step out and see them. Tuesday night's overhead performance was seen all around the Island. On social media we saw the posting of photographs by Island residents we know: Isaac Taylor posted pictures from Aquinnah. Jared Maciel posted from Vineyard Haven. Doug Abdelnour shared his pictures, taken in the vicinity of Oak Bluffs and the Steamship Authority wharf. Scott Bliss posted pictures which included the  East Chop lighthouse. Michael Blanchard went to a number of different spots. 

Stay tuned. You too have a greater chance of seeing them looking ahead. To get a hint when they are going to appear, stay tuned to your familiar live streaming news sources. We saw a number of local television stations post the forecast on the most public media streaming services. 

It used to be, you'd have to monitor one obscure scientific space and atmospheric website to get a forecast. Add to that, you don't even need a special camera to get nice pictures. Most photographs we are seeing now probably were taken just with a handheld, or a tripod mounted, cellphone camera.