About Wil

In 2015, standing beneath a stormy Icelandic sky, I witnessed the Aurora Borealis for the first time — a shimmering, sky-wide explosion of solar energy colliding with Earth’s magnetic field. In that moment, awe became purpose. What followed was a radical shift in my life: I went from being a curious observer to a full-time Aurora chaser, astrophotographer, and science communicator dedicated to reconnecting people with the night sky.

 

Driven by that first encounter, I immersed myself in heliophysics and atmospheric science, learning how to read and interpret real-time space weather data — solar wind speeds, interplanetary magnetic fields, and geomagnetic indices — to forecast Aurora activity with remarkable accuracy. Over time, I became known for translating these invisible, often complex solar-magnetic interactions into meaningful, actionable alerts, helping people around the world experience the Aurora not just by chance, but by design.


 

To date, I’ve observed more than 387 Aurora displays. My broadcast channel, Wil’s Aurora Alerts, provides real-time predictions to over 60,000 subscribers, while my Facebook page, Wil Photography, reaches more than 259,000 followers and generates over 100 million views annually. My imagery and insights have inspired countless travellers to witness the lights for themselves. I’ve also led over 500 guests on Aurora expeditions to Iceland, and most recently chartered an entire cruise ship to guide more than 1,000 guests through Norway’s Arctic waters in pursuit of the Aurora. My forecasts are trusted by travellers, scientists, and skywatchers alike.

But behind the data lies something deeper: an emotional connection to the cosmos that I’ve never lost. Every Aurora event reminds me of our place in a much larger system — of the sun’s reach, Earth’s fragility, and the thin veil of atmosphere that makes life, and wonder, possible.

 

I’m proud to be a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, an Aurorasaurus Ambassador, and a delegate of the International Dark Sky Association. I actively advocate for the preservation of natural darkness — not only to protect wildlife and ecosystems, but to preserve one of the few experiences that still silences us: looking up and feeling small, connected, and alive.

My work and story have captured the attention of audiences far beyond the science community. I’m a TEDx speaker and I’ve been featured by Forbes, The One Show, ITV and BBC National News, LADbible, and even appeared on Channel 4’s Gogglebox. My photography and forecasts have been published in over 50 outlets worldwide. I’ve also hosted sold-out events at leading venues such as the National Space Centre and Sherwood Observatory, and most recently led a privately chartered cruise of over 1,000 guests on an Aurora-chasing expedition to Norway.