11/05/2024
Aurora Borealis on South Coast
Langstone Joe posted a photo:
A Bucket List item that I never thought I would see - the Aurora Borealis. As living on the south coast at Latitude 50.9N its not something that ever seems to extend that far south. But the fates aligned last night and I was treated to a wonderful display, and a reminder of how small we are, and how stunning nature can be.
This image is pointed at the NE, the lights were even prominent facing due East. To the eye the colours were far more muted but clearly visible, the longer exposure of the camera certainly enhanced them. Tried doing some stitches for a wider perspective type panorama but the tendrils of light were flickering and moving and defeated my skills at trying to stick the images together, so a single frame at 24mm it is.
The green hues are from the solar particles interacting with Oxygen atoms in the atmosphere, and the reds/purples are from Nitrogen. What I saw was mainly greens lower to the horizon and the reds higher up, and more red in the sky than green.
I shall be poised and ready tonight in case the lights do an encore, and this time will be better prepared with camera batteries charged, and my tripod ball-head actually on the tripod rather than lurking in the depths of the garage.
Hope you all had a good show wherever you are located.
Joe
ISO 6400 - F 3.5 - 1.3 secs
Joe
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