I was fortunate to have a short view of a nice auroral display this evening, when the snow clouds cleared for a short while just after 22:30 UTC. At this time a bright band of aurora was visible in the cloud gaps, already at around 60 degrees above the horizon in the northern sky. Image 1 below is taken at 22:54 UTC, and there was a distinct band of moderate auroral activity with a good green colour to the naked eye and some ray structure which was shifting slowly between overhead and around 60 degrees north. This band remained similar in location and structure until 23:10 (Images 2 and 3), after which there was a notable increase in activity (structure and intensity) and a rayed curtain to the north began to flicker across the sky with obvious movement to the naked eye (Images 4 and 5). During this period some friendly Icelandic horses came to check out what I was up to, and I took a few images of them under the aurora from 23:15 to 23:19 (Images 6 to 8). Unfortunately it was not in their nature to simultaneously stand still for 10 seconds, and so slightly blurry horses was the result!
From 23:19 to 23:21 there was an intense burst of aurora, with fast movement and multiple curtains swirling across the sky and with brief pink lower fringes visible to the eye on some of the aurora bands (Images 9 to 12). After this burst the aurora steadily decreased in activity, and became more diffuse and less structured so that by 23:30 all of the activity was moderate and to the north again (Image 13). After 23:40 activity was generally weak. However, at the same time the wind increased dramatically and produced blizzard conditions with lots of snow being whisked through the air off the ground and fresh snow falling, and consequently it became difficult to see what was happening with the aurora. Consequently, I headed home before the camera was blown over. I reached home at midnight, and there was still some aurora visible through the clouds so probably a good show continued for those with better weather conditions.
Image 1. 22:54 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 14 sec. Looking north-east.
Image 2. 23:00 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 8.9 sec. Looking north-east.
Image 3. 23:05 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 11 sec. Looking north.
Image 4. 23:13 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 7.6 sec. Looking north. Out of focus horses who wouldn’t stand still, but behind them the auroral rays can be seen forming as the curtain begins to flicker across the sky.
Image 5. 23:13 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 4.3 sec. Looking west. The western end of the auroral band (with much light pollution to the west).
Image 6. 23:16 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 12 sec. Looking north.
Image 7. 23:18 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 12 sec. Looking north.
Image 8. 23:19 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 2.9 sec. Looking north.
Image 9. 23:19 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 4 sec. Looking north-west.
Image 10. 23:20 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 6.5 sec. Looking north-west.
Image 11. 23:20 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 4.7 sec. Looking north-west.
Image 12. 23:21 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 6 sec. Looking north-west.
Image 12. 23:34 UTC. Taken at: ISO = 1600, f/2.8 @ 14 mm, exposure = 12 sec. Looking north-west. Horses standing with their backs to the rapidly-increasing wind!
