May 10th, 2024 was a night I will never forget. A X-class solar flare made a direct hit on our planet and sparked aurora as far south as Cuba. Fortunately skies were mostly clear and there were early warnings from observers in southern Europe that a major event was in process. Millions of photos were posted online and many Balsam residents saw and photographed the show. This is by far the best photo I took with just a standard DSLR on a tripod in the driveway. As the 11 year sunspot cycle begins to fade, an event like this could occur at any time.
