A wondrous Spring aurora show
I got up at about 03:15 today. First thing (as always), I went out onto the deck and checked the sky. There was a very faint glow that was probably aurora, but the current report showed a Kp of under 2, so there was basically no chance of getting a show. But I got my photography gear ready anyway, because you just never know 🙂
I made coffee, sat down at the computer, and started working on a blog post about my visit to Aklavik last week. Looking outside again at 03:35, that glow still wasn’t much, but was now worth photographing as a possible record of a display’s development (which it now is). Not until I lightened the image I saw on the camera did I see that there was more to it than what my eyes saw. I rarely post aurora photos that I’ve “photoshopped,” but want to show you what was hidden in this photo until just now.
Just 3 minutes later, BOOM! – yes, we have a show 🙂
My property isn’t a great aurora photography location due to trees and a neighbour’s security lights, but I had zero faith that this display would last long enough for me to drive to a better spot. I was too afraid I’d miss something to even take 3-4 minutes to let my Aurora Alert group know – bad Murray! The temperature was 0°C, so pyjamas and flipflops were reasonable shooting attire.
03:41 – I had moved off the upper deck to the side yard, to shoot across the house. The patterns were changing rapidly, and pretty much the entire sky was involved, so, shooting with my 10mm Rokinon lens, I kept my shutter speed down to 10 seconds, at ISO 800.
I rushed in to turn a low-wattage light on to show the house better. We’re 4 days away from a full moon, so the sky to the left was quite bright.
03:47 – I had moved to the front yard. It can sometimes offer good views but lights and wires are a challenge. The aurora had faded, and I thought it might be ending.
The view to the northwest a minute later.
The reds – the uncommon colour that every aurora shooter hopes for – were the best to the southwest.
03:52 – some brief flares were brilliant.
The peak action probably started at about 03:54, and I was shooting constantly, in every direction.
Shooting to the southeast along our street can sometimes work quite well, and this was one of those times.
While I was shooting on the street, the display began to fade, and I went inside for a couple of slurps of hot coffee.
At 04:11-12, I shot two final photos from the upper deck, the second one with a jet passing by.
After spending 90 minutes at a great location with a great forecast the night before and seeing nothing but stars, this display really felt like a gift. Now, back to working on the post about Aklavik 🙂
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Many the night I have sat out in the early AM (from midnight, not the early rising hours) watching satellites, milky way, special moons and occasionally in the ADK park of NYS, a few times for a tiny aurora forecast. You had a big one for sure.. I made note of your camera settings just in case. Your enthusiasm is always so great to experience through your posts and photos here. Thanks, as always, for sharing with us.
All I can say is …. WOW
That’s what I kept saying, Neal – some of the best colour I’ve ever seen 🙂
Murray
I look forward to your photos every day and am never disappointed.! You are an amazing photographer and an amazing man. You have turned your life around since your accident and improved your life by so much. You are a wonder. Your new life with Cathy as she enters the next stage of her life with you will be amazing. You will both have so much to look forward to. Wishing you the best time ever.
Huge thanks, my friend. Cathy and I are counting the days down to her retirement, and are so excited by the possibilities.