Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) photographer Rick Olson took advantage of a rare northern lights display Thursday night, capturing vibrant images from the Mitchell Lake boat launch in Eden Prairie. Facing west, he photographed the aurora over the lake at about 9 p.m.

“You could see the lights with the naked eye, but the camera, with a longer exposure on a tripod, picks up lights and colors that we don’t usually see,” he said.

Later, Olson traveled about 10 miles west of Mitchell Lake to the Carver/Chaska area, capturing photos near a barn structure along Jonathan Carver Parkway, north of Highway 212, between 11:30 and 11:45 p.m.

“I was surprised at how much the camera picked up that I couldn’t see with my naked eye, especially the red sky,” he said.

Overall, he said, these are the best “suburban” northern lights photos he has ever taken. “Usually, the suburban light pollution hides the lights,” he said.