Most spectacular aurora ever? - don't think so

Last Friday night's aurora was supposed to have been one of the most spectacular displays of recent times. I didn't think so. But then what with the poxy Irish weather and the nearly full moon, what did I expect?

I did get some photos, though, which you can view here:

www.mythicalireland.com/astronomy/astrop...ora-january-2005.php

Oh, and when it got foggy, I didn't put the camera away. I got some pretty surreal images while I was out . . .

hi Anthony,

those pictures will frighten the bejaypers out of Al White! All those beams in the sky! Very nice composition of the shots though and a nice shot on your site of the aurora over Newgrange.

I didn't see the display but certainly think the series of aurora storms in late-2003 were quite spectacular. The greatest display I've ever seen was on November 8th, 1991. That display was so strong around 10pm that I could easily see my shadow cast purely by the light of the aurora! The display was extremely active with many light pulses racing across the sky and bursting like strobe lights at the magnetic zenith. It was a once-in-a-decade (or more) type event. To the south, the sky was on fire while the northern sky was almost like daylight!

all the best,

John

John,

Yes, the photos are interesting! I never waste a night out with the camera, that's for sure!

The best aurora I've ever seen were the two displays in Winter 2003, one in October and one in November. I think the first of those was better, because at one stage the whole sky was lit up.

There was also one in 2000 which had a beautiful cobalt colour:
www.mythicalireland.com/astronomy/astrophotos/aurora2000.html

Anyway, I posted an alert on this group on Friday night before I went out, and it seems I was lucky to even see what I did see because of the weather!

Nice photos Anthony,

Go-on admit it, you went home and took screen shots from 'Close Encounters'

Nah, it was ET: Extra Terrestrial :lol:

those pictures will frighten the bejaypers out of Al White!

Not as much as
www.mythicalireland.com/astronomy/astrop.../aurora-oct03-02.jpg
and
www.mythicalireland.com/astronomy/astrop...aurora-2003nov-2.jpg

Cheers,
~Al