Post subject: Re: a display of color of a different kind. Aurora in AK
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 1:34 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
have one good sequence from last night. There is another chance tonight.
I think I have a few more sets from last night. but need to look at them later. the epxposures were about 15 seconds each.
this one looks like it is out of focus. But I am down south and it is not as crisp as if were further north. That said, I am checking my focus before I go out again tonight.
Post subject: Re: a display of color of a different kind. Aurora in AK
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:07 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
The last few were taken along side a hiway. In some of the shots, you get the headlights or taillights of a passing car.
The ones with the hight mountains in the background, are taken in a place called hatchers pass. The onl thing at the top is a lodge. Most of these are taken between midnght and 4:00 am. So at hatchers pass, the pnly people out are people going up to take pictures. of the aurora.
The problem is that there is no cell reception at the pass. There are a few web sites, that forcast what the aurra will be like in an hour. (based on data from satelites). So it is noce to be able to get that info, to know if it is worth staying any later.
On the seond site, along the hiway, I get cell reception, so I can look at the forecast.
But they are not always 100%. Last night, it was suppose to be strong, but I sat out there for 3 hours and got nothing worth looking at.
Glad I have a digital camera. I [icked up a cannon camera for the trip. It has a utility that allows you to plug it into your computer and control the camera. So I can sit inside inside the relatively waerm car and shoot. It also has a time lapse utility, so I can set it to take a thousand shots, and off it goes. At least with digital, I can simply delete the shots if they do not work out.
Last night, I let it take shots while I went to the back of the SUV and took a nap.
Post subject: Re: a display of color of a different kind. Aurora in AK
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 6:19 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
SO FRUSTRATED. BIT CME impact last night and as I type thismagnetic feld was i today. i went out early, and at 10:00 I was getting this picure. The scale for Aurora is from 1-9. Up to now the pictures I had were in the 3-4 range. It was at a 6 last night. It is at an * now, but it is daylight. Anyhow, as it peaked at a 7 last night, right as midnight, so thehalf magnetic field had them coming over us.... the clouds moved in. I drove for half an hour trying to get clear skys, but no luck.
Here are the very faint shots.
Right now someone is geting a wonderful display. Just not me.
Post subject: Re: a display of color of a different kind. Aurora in AK
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 11:04 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
It is 6:00 pm and dark, and the "KP" index is still at a 6. IT was clear all day, but the clouds are coming in. I am going to head out soon and hope to find clear skys. Who knows maybe some good shots to post tomorrow.
Post subject: Re: a display of color of a different kind. Aurora in AK
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:27 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
It was clear last night. I met several people all watching. They were surprised that there was not more color. Usually when the display is at this level it is a green, red, or violet.
This is one of the displays. I will try to piece some more together in the next few days.
This shows how the display starts out, and then marches across the sky. Actually it is not the one I thought it was....
This is 171 shots. You can see that the display is behind some low clouds that rolled in.
Post subject: Re: a display of color of a different kind. Aurora in AK
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:39 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
There was a coronal mass ejection a few days ago that should be reaching us soon. There are 3 different timings predicted one of which would have a good show for us in Alaska tonight. It is predicted to reach a level 7 (G3 storm level). This should make a show as far south as main, the and the north west.
This site gathers data from the satelites and gives a prediction of the level an hour ahead of time. It also has a diagram that shows where you can see the aurora based on KP levels. If you live in a northern state, it may be worth checking the site as the evening progresses.
I just checked, there was a secon CME yesterday, that is probably headed to earth. It should be here in a day or two, so good luck.
If you decide to try pictures, try a wide angle lenze. Before you go out, make sure you focus it to infinity. Try for as wide an apature as you gan get (usuallu 2.. The moon is still pretty full, so try exposures around 8 to 10 seconds. You may have o go as long as 30 to 45 seconds.
You may mistake it for a pail cloud. But take a photograph. You will get more detail.
Post subject: Re: a display of color of a different kind. Aurora in AK
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 11:13 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
It is 6:00 in the evening and the CME is starting to hit. BUT IT IS CLOUD COVERED.
I may get in the car and try to drive an hour or so and see fi I can get out of it. The sataite image shows a break east of here. I ma be able to get to it.
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