Northern lights brighten the night shift

A locomotive engineer spotted the elusive northern lights while working overnight this week.

by Maggie Mullen August 16, 2024August 15, 2024

The northern lights are pictured in the early morning hours south of Bill. (Alan Nash/WyoFile)

There aren’t many advantages to working nights, Alan Nash says, but getting a glimpse of the aurora borealis is one.

Nash, a locomotive engineer, photographed the green and magenta ribbons of light early Monday just south of Bill, Wyoming.

Spotting the northern lights in Wyoming can be tricky, since viewing conditions can be hard to predict because of the weather. But when you happen upon them, Nash said, there’s a big off.

It makes working nights “worth it,” Nash said.

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Maggie Mullen

Maggie Mullen reports on state government and politics. Before joining WyoFile in 2022, she spent five years at Wyoming Public Radio. More by Maggie Mullen

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