"Aurora
of 2003"
October
29
Albany,
Missouri: 40 degrees North Latitude
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A
most remarkable
northern lights (aurora borealis) display as seen
from here in Albany,
Missouri. There were two previous
solar storms of note in recent
times occurring in 1991 and 2001. They both
occurred in early November
while this one occurred just a few days earlier in
late October.
This display was very similar to the one in 2001
but did not equal the
intensity, longevity, and visible movement of the
"Great Aurora" of 1991.
I used my old and trusty Nikon FG camera and
Albinar 28mm wide angle lens
to get the main shot below. The aperture was
set to wide open at
f/2.8. These images were scanned directly
from the prints that I have. The camera was
mounted on a tripod for about a 45 second
exposure.
The view is looking towards the north from my home
on 13th street in Albany, Missouri. There
are
streetlights in the shot with differing types of
lamps (Mercury - Sodium) which account for
the different colors visible.
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Below is a picture of the sunspot that
caused
the aurora above. I took this picture of the sunspot four
days before
the aurora event above occurred not really knowing that it would
produce
such vivid auroras. The sunspot group photo was taken with
a properly
filtered telescope and digital camera. Only part of the
sun is visible
in the photograph. For scale the earth would probably be
about the
size of the letter O that I have typed
here.
Below are my posts to the Internet
typed
while the aurora event was going on. It captures my
thoughts as the
event was unfolding right before my eyes.
0:38 UT 10-30-2003
I am reporting a solid green auroral
band
across my northern horizon
from here in Albany, Missouri. Reaches
about
20 degrees up right
now. No movement noted other than it
was
first noticed in the
northeast and moved to the northwest.
No
reds noted yet. I'm going
back out.
Dan Bush
www.missouriskies.com
6:50 pm
WOW WOW WOW
I am reporting vivid greens and reds
and
in shafts. This is bigger
than 1991. Reaching 40 degrees up
plus...
Heading back out.
Dan Bush
www.missouriskies.com
7:05 pm
The activity has moved on to the
northwest
and has subsided. Ghostly
green glow still hugs the horizon with
some
reds to the northwest.
Incredible but brief display. I take it
back about being better
than 1991. Impressive visually but not
a
long display like
1991. . Auroral curtains were
incredible
for a little while
reaching 40 degrees and higher. Maybe
that
was only round #1
Photographic
Technical
Details:
Camera:
Nikon FG
Lens:
Albinar 28mm
set at f/2.8
Exposure:
several
minutes on each shot.
Tripod
Mounted
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