Rare celestial 'date': Lithuanian photographer captures Ursa Major and Northern Lights

Lithuanian photographer Jūratė has captured a stunning image showcasing both the Ursa Major (Big Dipper) constellation and the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in a single frame. She shared the breathtaking photograph on the Facebook group 'Weather Enthusiasts,' describing it as a beautiful celestial encounter.

The remarkable shots were taken on the evening of August 18, between approximately 10:05 PM and 11:41 PM local time. Jūratė, who typically photographs birds, expressed her fascination with the night sky and her growing interest in capturing auroras. She mentioned checking weather forecasts and cloud cover predictions before venturing out to photograph such phenomena.

This unexpected sighting has apparently intensified her passion for auroras, leading her to consider herself a dedicated 'hunter' of these natural light displays. Jūratė explained that the night sky holds a captivating mystery, as cameras can reveal details and colors that the human eye often misses. Even a seemingly calm, dark August sky can appear dramatically different when captured through a lens.

This is not the first time Jūratė has successfully photographed the Northern Lights. She has previous images from May 11-12, 2024, taken in the city of Kėdainiai. The recent photograph, however, uniquely features the colors of the aurora, the prominent Ursa Major constellation above it, and the calm waters of the Juodkiškiai pond below. This moment occurred after a night where initial forecasts were unpromising, yet a strong intuition prompted her to look skyward.