Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

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marktownley
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Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by marktownley »

It was the 'super storm' that wasn't last night. NASA boffins predicted the Coronal Mass Ejection would hit at 18:00ut with auroras lasting for days. It didn't, it may have not even arrived yet, what did hit was a glancing blow from another solar flare that occurred earlier in the week, hitting at more like 22:00ut. For about an hour and half the sky was wild with aurora, but then by midnight it had died right off, and by 05:00ut all that remained was a quiescent green arc. This time lapse is over about 10 minutes at around 22:30ut. Despite the bright lights of Reykjavik it was still seen reflecting in the waters of the bay. Just glad we managed to finish our week with aurora. After taking these shots it was time to head back to the hotel for 3 hours sleep before having to get the shuttle back to the airport... Good times!

Image1024-ani by Mark Townley, on Flickr


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by Carbon60 »

Excellent, Mark. I’m so glad you managed to see and photograph the Aurora before you had to leave. It’s a pity the CME didn’t deliver a strong direct blow.

Stu.


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by Montana »

Fabulous!!! luck at the last minute :hamster: :hamster: :hamster: It looks like it was only Iceland that really got the blast (gentle gust).

I would love to see this again someday, I need a holiday northwards :)

Alexandra


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by ffellah »

Love your time lapse, Mark. I am glad you got to see it after the sleepless nights. Lisa and I would very much like to go to Iceland in the next few years to see the lights.

Franco :band


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Very well done Mark on the super animation , which whatever Aurora event was captured, certainly shows the action very well.

Thanks vm for sharing
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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by torsinadoc »

Excellent! Thanks for sharing


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by MAURITS »

What a spectacular sight from the aurora in Iceland.
Thanks for sharing Mark.


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by Ibbo »

Great stuff Mark


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by Ivan »

Excellent animation Mark, glad you saw this! What shutter speed did you use?

Ivan


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Mark,
I would have been thrilled to see it after so many years. Even though the geomagnetic storm turned out weaker than expected it's still a beautiful sight. Have you ever seen it from your home in England?

Congrats on the SPOD too!!

James


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by arnedanielsen »

Glad to see that you got clear skies and got to see and image the aurora, Mark!

Best regards,
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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by MapleRidge »

Magnificent animation Mark :bow

Glad to hear you were able to catch it before the flight out!

Brian


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by Simon2940 »

Looks like it was well worth the effort!


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by marktownley »

Thanks everyone for the kind words and also the SPoD.

I used my trusty Canon 350D, 15 years old now and still going somehow, although it has lots of hot pixels, a Sigma 10mm f4 lens, 15s exposure at iso800. There are 15 individual exposures in the sequence. My biggest problem was light pollution, and we were a good couple of miles from the centre of Reykjavik, along the sea front is completely illuminated by lights as can be seen in the animation, a shame as looking over the bay here looks north and not many years ago without the lights the view over the bay was quite dark.

I've seen the aurora from here in the UK 3 times in my lifetime so far - once when I was young over 30 years ago at my parents house, although admittedly they live(d) out in the countryside and back then skies were properly dark which is why I got into astronomy. I saw once around 2000, which was seen widely across the UK and then a few years ago in february when we were on holiday in North Wales I photographed the slightest hint of one, although no visible visually.

Have been to Iceland 20+ times, and seen aurora on a lot more times than that. What I do know is that while it is hard to predict 'exactly' when they will happen, it is very easy using magnetometer, solar proton flux, solar wind speed graphs etc to know when the aurora 'is' happening. Thus avoiding waiting outside getting cold in a sub polar climate. A bit of science is our friend on this occasion!

We're back again at the end of may / beginning of june next year, and with 24 hour daylight will be no chance of aurora, and too bright for NLC, but, we don't just go to Iceland for the northern lights!


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Re: Iceland Aurora 30th October 2021

Post by pedro »

Great stuff Mark. I also use my Canon 350D all the time with the same lens


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