SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
@skwinnicki.bsky.social
Evolutionary ecologist & ornithologist, postdoc Ohio State | PhD UIUC, MSc Kansas State | SciComm, birding, and nature photography | certified Lawn Hater, Cowbird Apologist, Stress Physiology Enthusiast, Typo Lover | they/them 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 | skwinnicki.com
Given how often headlines about gun violence are contorted to avoid active voice (“unarmed man was shot” or “person dead in officer-involved shooting”) I feel like this is a wild time to do better
November 15, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Given how often headlines about gun violence are contorted to avoid active voice (“unarmed man was shot” or “person dead in officer-involved shooting”) I feel like this is a wild time to do better
The “What’s this Bird?” Facebook group is mostly photos of common birds that beginners are struggling to identify (and that’s great! a good and useful function)
And then every once in awhile it’s a mega rarity, like some wagtail species in Florida. We love to see it.
And then every once in awhile it’s a mega rarity, like some wagtail species in Florida. We love to see it.
November 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The “What’s this Bird?” Facebook group is mostly photos of common birds that beginners are struggling to identify (and that’s great! a good and useful function)
And then every once in awhile it’s a mega rarity, like some wagtail species in Florida. We love to see it.
And then every once in awhile it’s a mega rarity, like some wagtail species in Florida. We love to see it.
I assumed my phone would’ve shown the multiple data apps I toggle between as a track aurora but nope that’s y’all here on Bluesky.
The first good look I ever got at an aurora was because I saw a tweet that said “go outside right now!” so I try to be that for other people now haha
The first good look I ever got at an aurora was because I saw a tweet that said “go outside right now!” so I try to be that for other people now haha
November 14, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I assumed my phone would’ve shown the multiple data apps I toggle between as a track aurora but nope that’s y’all here on Bluesky.
The first good look I ever got at an aurora was because I saw a tweet that said “go outside right now!” so I try to be that for other people now haha
The first good look I ever got at an aurora was because I saw a tweet that said “go outside right now!” so I try to be that for other people now haha
Stuck at home waiting on repair contractors and feeling a bit unhinged
So please enjoy the actual uncropped version of this photo, the first ever taken of me with my beloved sky lights.
See why I cropped it? Lol. Getting roasted for it in the sibling group chat.
So please enjoy the actual uncropped version of this photo, the first ever taken of me with my beloved sky lights.
See why I cropped it? Lol. Getting roasted for it in the sibling group chat.
November 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Stuck at home waiting on repair contractors and feeling a bit unhinged
So please enjoy the actual uncropped version of this photo, the first ever taken of me with my beloved sky lights.
See why I cropped it? Lol. Getting roasted for it in the sibling group chat.
So please enjoy the actual uncropped version of this photo, the first ever taken of me with my beloved sky lights.
See why I cropped it? Lol. Getting roasted for it in the sibling group chat.
I’ve seen mid-latitude aurora 6 nights before this week, but always by myself or with only my dog.
Tuesday night (11 November 2025) was the first time friends joined me, and therefore the first time I have a picture of me and the aurora together.
From the 9:30 PM EST substorm ❤️💚
Tuesday night (11 November 2025) was the first time friends joined me, and therefore the first time I have a picture of me and the aurora together.
From the 9:30 PM EST substorm ❤️💚
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I’ve seen mid-latitude aurora 6 nights before this week, but always by myself or with only my dog.
Tuesday night (11 November 2025) was the first time friends joined me, and therefore the first time I have a picture of me and the aurora together.
From the 9:30 PM EST substorm ❤️💚
Tuesday night (11 November 2025) was the first time friends joined me, and therefore the first time I have a picture of me and the aurora together.
From the 9:30 PM EST substorm ❤️💚
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
If you’re wondering how I’m deciding if this is aurora vs. just typical light pollution:
-I track substorm data to know when the lights are brighter/visible
-I take photos north of me on non-aurora days to compare
-I take photos of the north (left) and other directions (west, right) and compare
-I track substorm data to know when the lights are brighter/visible
-I take photos north of me on non-aurora days to compare
-I take photos of the north (left) and other directions (west, right) and compare
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 AM
If you’re wondering how I’m deciding if this is aurora vs. just typical light pollution:
-I track substorm data to know when the lights are brighter/visible
-I take photos north of me on non-aurora days to compare
-I take photos of the north (left) and other directions (west, right) and compare
-I track substorm data to know when the lights are brighter/visible
-I take photos north of me on non-aurora days to compare
-I take photos of the north (left) and other directions (west, right) and compare
Not being smart and going to sleep because I’m distracted by aurora substorms
+ not giving in and trying to drive to a better aurora spot because I’m extremely tired
= standing in the middle of town in my pjs to see a hint of pink in the city sky
11:15 substorm tonight from Columbus Ohio
+ not giving in and trying to drive to a better aurora spot because I’m extremely tired
= standing in the middle of town in my pjs to see a hint of pink in the city sky
11:15 substorm tonight from Columbus Ohio
November 13, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Not being smart and going to sleep because I’m distracted by aurora substorms
+ not giving in and trying to drive to a better aurora spot because I’m extremely tired
= standing in the middle of town in my pjs to see a hint of pink in the city sky
11:15 substorm tonight from Columbus Ohio
+ not giving in and trying to drive to a better aurora spot because I’m extremely tired
= standing in the middle of town in my pjs to see a hint of pink in the city sky
11:15 substorm tonight from Columbus Ohio
In my experience video gets a bit distorted so still images captures the light better. It’s a little hard to tell! That substorm wasn’t too bright here (although I’ll go back out to check in a minute). Subtle pink to the north (left) versus normal sky color to the west (right)
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 AM
In my experience video gets a bit distorted so still images captures the light better. It’s a little hard to tell! That substorm wasn’t too bright here (although I’ll go back out to check in a minute). Subtle pink to the north (left) versus normal sky color to the west (right)
Local aurora chaser starting to have serious regrets as they scramble for hint-of-purple aurora photos from their rental in the densest most light-polluted town in the state.
November 13, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Local aurora chaser starting to have serious regrets as they scramble for hint-of-purple aurora photos from their rental in the densest most light-polluted town in the state.
On the north shore of Lake Erie there's a gigantic greenhouse lit with a warm red glow.
It shines bright enough you can detect it from the Ohio side of the lake as a red beam that lights low clouds.
I know this because daily someone posts it to Ohio aurora watching groups, thinking it's the lights
It shines bright enough you can detect it from the Ohio side of the lake as a red beam that lights low clouds.
I know this because daily someone posts it to Ohio aurora watching groups, thinking it's the lights
November 12, 2025 at 11:51 PM
On the north shore of Lake Erie there's a gigantic greenhouse lit with a warm red glow.
It shines bright enough you can detect it from the Ohio side of the lake as a red beam that lights low clouds.
I know this because daily someone posts it to Ohio aurora watching groups, thinking it's the lights
It shines bright enough you can detect it from the Ohio side of the lake as a red beam that lights low clouds.
I know this because daily someone posts it to Ohio aurora watching groups, thinking it's the lights
Really delighted by this disclaimer on spaceweather.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Really delighted by this disclaimer on spaceweather.com
There were still vivid lights in the sky when we had to call it a night because it was now past midnight and our hands were so numb we could no longer use our cameras. But, what a night! My heart is so full <3
10/10
10/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:35 AM
There were still vivid lights in the sky when we had to call it a night because it was now past midnight and our hands were so numb we could no longer use our cameras. But, what a night! My heart is so full <3
10/10
10/10
At one point a cry went up—what was that weird light on the horizon? Some sort of aurora or a fire on the planet’s surface? But nope it was just the moon rising haha. So much more for worrying about the moon blocking the aurora!
9/10
9/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 AM
At one point a cry went up—what was that weird light on the horizon? Some sort of aurora or a fire on the planet’s surface? But nope it was just the moon rising haha. So much more for worrying about the moon blocking the aurora!
9/10
9/10
I turned to the south, over the Columbus city lights. You could catch the edge of the aurora lights with the camera only looking in this direction, but I thought it was very cool that I could see the constellation Orion, in the southern sky here, with the northern lights!
8/10
8/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 AM
I turned to the south, over the Columbus city lights. You could catch the edge of the aurora lights with the camera only looking in this direction, but I thought it was very cool that I could see the constellation Orion, in the southern sky here, with the northern lights!
8/10
8/10
At some point someone yelled “look up, it’s right above us!” These colors weren’t as visible to the naked eye, but there were absolutely aurora colors directly overhead. I laid on the snowy ground to photograph them.
7/10
7/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:32 AM
At some point someone yelled “look up, it’s right above us!” These colors weren’t as visible to the naked eye, but there were absolutely aurora colors directly overhead. I laid on the snowy ground to photograph them.
7/10
7/10
Then the neat red and green bands seemed to mix, forming a brilliant and chaotic burst of color. Constantly moving shapes and patterns swirling around. The lowest green bands right above the lake danced. All visible to the naked eye.
6/10
6/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Then the neat red and green bands seemed to mix, forming a brilliant and chaotic burst of color. Constantly moving shapes and patterns swirling around. The lowest green bands right above the lake danced. All visible to the naked eye.
6/10
6/10
The red band extended the entire length of the horizon, following the path of the green band, terminating with it on the northwestern end, forming two stunning bands of light in the sky.
5/10
5/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:28 AM
The red band extended the entire length of the horizon, following the path of the green band, terminating with it on the northwestern end, forming two stunning bands of light in the sky.
5/10
5/10
Suddenly, vivid red appeared on the eastern edge of the arc. It grew into bright scarlet pillars, which soon swelled, following the patch of the arc into the sky north of us. We could see it with the naked eye—stunning!
4/10
4/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Suddenly, vivid red appeared on the eastern edge of the arc. It grew into bright scarlet pillars, which soon swelled, following the patch of the arc into the sky north of us. We could see it with the naked eye—stunning!
4/10
4/10
In the past, I’ve noticed these green aurora arcs preceding big substorms, with the color starting on the edges of the arc. When we started to see red on the edges we hustled up the stairs to the cold above. It was lovely to see the arc over the lake, even if my hands were really shaking!
3/10
3/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:25 AM
In the past, I’ve noticed these green aurora arcs preceding big substorms, with the color starting on the edges of the arc. When we started to see red on the edges we hustled up the stairs to the cold above. It was lovely to see the arc over the lake, even if my hands were really shaking!
3/10
3/10
Following the last substorm, we were sitting below the local dam, trying to feel our fingers again in the frigid air. My friends were about to head home as it neared 11PM, but I could see the green aurora arc growing on the horizon, with my naked eye even. But I knew what was coming!
2/10
2/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Following the last substorm, we were sitting below the local dam, trying to feel our fingers again in the frigid air. My friends were about to head home as it neared 11PM, but I could see the green aurora arc growing on the horizon, with my naked eye even. But I knew what was coming!
2/10
2/10
This is my last and longest of three aurora threads, for the final substorm I saw from Columbus Ohio USA. It was by far the most brilliant and the strongest (at one point visible *south* of us)! It started ~11:30PM local time and lasted a full half-hour. Just unbelievably stunning!
1/10
1/10
November 12, 2025 at 8:23 AM
This is my last and longest of three aurora threads, for the final substorm I saw from Columbus Ohio USA. It was by far the most brilliant and the strongest (at one point visible *south* of us)! It started ~11:30PM local time and lasted a full half-hour. Just unbelievably stunning!
1/10
1/10
It felt ridiculous to leave the dam when the sky looked like this, but I couldn't feel any of my fingers and was getting worried about frostbite. So we walked back down and sat below the dam, sheltered a bit from the wind, and took photos as the bright colors faded into a soft glow.
8/8
8/8
November 12, 2025 at 7:49 AM
It felt ridiculous to leave the dam when the sky looked like this, but I couldn't feel any of my fingers and was getting worried about frostbite. So we walked back down and sat below the dam, sheltered a bit from the wind, and took photos as the bright colors faded into a soft glow.
8/8
8/8
Around this time someone pulled into the parking lot of a beach on the other side of the lake and left their headlights on, so they're in a lot of my photos (don't do this, team!).
That got me to look away from the light pillars, though, and realize there was red directly overhead too!
7/8
That got me to look away from the light pillars, though, and realize there was red directly overhead too!
7/8
November 12, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Around this time someone pulled into the parking lot of a beach on the other side of the lake and left their headlights on, so they're in a lot of my photos (don't do this, team!).
That got me to look away from the light pillars, though, and realize there was red directly overhead too!
7/8
That got me to look away from the light pillars, though, and realize there was red directly overhead too!
7/8
The brilliant scarlet filled the sky, enough that I couldn't capture all the light and its reflection with my lens. We could see it very clearly with the naked eye and it was wonderful!
6/8
6/8
November 12, 2025 at 7:49 AM
The brilliant scarlet filled the sky, enough that I couldn't capture all the light and its reflection with my lens. We could see it very clearly with the naked eye and it was wonderful!
6/8
6/8