Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Stephenb on January 22, 2012, 08:32:18 PM

Title: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Stephenb on January 22, 2012, 08:32:18 PM
Forumers in Scotland might like to look at the northern sky this evening - a strong Aurora here almost directly overhead - here's a series of shots taken at about 8 p.m. GMT  this evening
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: David Nicholson on January 22, 2012, 08:56:11 PM
Cracking pictures Stephen.
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Hoy on January 22, 2012, 09:30:55 PM
I had hoped to see it down here too but although the sky has been completely devoid of clouds all day it is overcast now :(
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Maggi Young on January 22, 2012, 10:06:11 PM
Best greens imaginable, Stephen. 8)

 We've had clear bright day here too... but too much cloud tonight.  :(
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: mark smyth on January 22, 2012, 10:19:23 PM
I saw it over N Ireland about 10 years ago
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Hoy on January 23, 2012, 04:13:41 PM
More from Monday:
http://nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/troms_og_finnmark/1.7964900
http://nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/more_og_romsdal/1.7964967?index=2#image-gallery-content


I saw it over N Ireland about 10 years ago

Mark, you can expect to see it again in 2013.
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Natalia on January 23, 2012, 04:54:35 PM
Stephen it is healthy!

Hoy, thanks for remarkable links!
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Maggi Young on January 23, 2012, 05:11:21 PM
The aurora pictures are marvelous. On the TV news at lunchtime today they showed some pictures taken  last night by persons in Aberdeenshire and in Shetland. Good... but not so spectacular as Stephen's!
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Roma on January 23, 2012, 05:14:48 PM
I noted the following two websites in the local newspaper a couple of weeks ago in an article about the Aurora Borealis.  The first is the website of the Highlands Astrological Society.  It also gives a link to the second which predicts whether the Aurora is likely to be seen in UK.  Not likely tonight and only in the very north of Scotland last night.
Forgot the links
http://www.spacegazer.com
http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk  
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Maggi Young on January 23, 2012, 05:18:33 PM
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2579583

"The Highlands Astronomical Society has an observatory located at the far end of the Culloden Battlefield NTS visitor centre car park, which is open to the general public at certain times.

If you are interested in attending an observing session, or would like some pointers on making the best of your own sessions, visit the website, http://www.spacegazer.com

Those who wish to find out when the northern lights will be visible can sign up for e-mail updates from AuroraWatch at http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/  "
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Roma on January 23, 2012, 05:27:07 PM
You beat me to it,Maggi.  Where would we be without you?
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Lesley Cox on January 23, 2012, 09:21:19 PM
Fantastic pictures of a wonderful display. Our Aurora australis is very rarely seen (in NZ anyway) and pallid by comparison.
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Stephenb on January 24, 2012, 10:29:01 AM
The following link shows more videos and lots of pictures taken near where I live. The first video is actually more or less the same view as in my pictures, just a bit closer to the airport:
http://www.adressa.no/tv/?id=18712&style=dark (http://www.adressa.no/tv/?id=18712&style=dark)

By the way, the strongest solar storm for 6 years is forecast to hit us today, so worth another look tonight! Still clear and forecast of about -10C tonight!

I heard last night that the lights were even spotted on the North Norfolk coast albeit not very strong!



Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Hoy on January 24, 2012, 10:39:35 AM
I hope to see it down here too this night - it is almost cloudless now 8)
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Olga Bondareva on January 24, 2012, 11:14:03 AM
Stephen thank you for the pictures! I've lost all my words.
When I saw the topic I thought to myself what is the alpine plant Aurora borealis? I know nothing about it!  ;D
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Hoy on January 24, 2012, 11:27:16 AM
Stephen thank you for the pictures! I've lost all my words.
When I saw the topic I thought to myself what is the alpine plant Aurora borealis? I know nothing about it!  ;D

Olga, have you never seen the northern light in Moscow? Maybe you have a chance tonight, but the sky has to be clear and no artificial light around you!

More pics:
http://www.vg.no/bildespesial/spesial.php?id=8645
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: emma T on January 24, 2012, 01:18:40 PM
I am going to be very optimistic  ( i am in Dorset     ::)    ! ) and have a look tonight if the clouds clear .
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Olga Bondareva on January 24, 2012, 03:34:58 PM
Olga, have you never seen the northern light in Moscow? Maybe you have a chance tonight, but the sky has to be clear and no artificial light around you!
No! I've never seen it here. Think it happens at the north of the country.
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Panu on January 24, 2012, 10:35:01 PM
There was wonderful northern lights here an hour ago! Usually they are in shades of green, but this time more colorful. This seems to work quite nicely http://aurora.fmi.fi/public_service/
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Lesley Cox on January 24, 2012, 11:05:01 PM
Oh Gosh Panu, those are really gorgeous.

Olga, the genus has two species. A. borealis and A australis. The latter is more rare but less spectacular.  ;D
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Anthony Darby on January 24, 2012, 11:18:59 PM
I used to see them regularly in Dunblane. Once, they were entirely red and I went up Sheriffmuir to get a better look.
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Stephenb on January 25, 2012, 10:01:56 AM
There was wonderful northern lights here an hour ago! Usually they are in shades of green, but this time more colorful. This seems to work quite nicely http://aurora.fmi.fi/public_service/


That's a nice system Panu! There was an aurora here last night at about 10 pm but it was further north and less spectacular here than the last event. A Facebook friend a bit north of here also reported a red aurora...
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: angie on January 25, 2012, 10:59:20 AM
I got fed up going out last night to have a look. I have seen it quite a few times here. The last time they put on a fantastic display was the day my sister died. The Northern lights have something magical and that night they seemed extra special. It was like my sister had put a display on for me and my mum. All the firework displays don't even touch what nature delivers to us free.

Angie  :)
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Hoy on January 25, 2012, 11:51:23 AM
I didn't see anything down here either :(
But they had a spectacular evening and night farther north.

http://nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nordland/1.7967958
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: TC on January 25, 2012, 06:04:49 PM
Never mind the Northern Lights, I would be quite happy to see the sky at night !  I have managed to see the moon about 6 times in the past 60 days.  If you wish to observe clouds, the West of Scotland is your place.
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Michael J Campbell on January 25, 2012, 06:55:24 PM
Quote
If you wish to observe clouds, the West of Scotland is your place.

Tom, obviously you were never in the west of  Ireland. :) :)
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: angie on January 25, 2012, 08:36:41 PM
Wont be going ouside tonight to see if the Northern lights are on show is blowing a gale out there  ::)

Angie  :)
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: SusanS on January 25, 2012, 09:16:49 PM
I got fed up going out last night to have a look. I have seen it quite a few times here. The last time they put on a fantastic display was the day my sister died. The Northern lights have something magical and that night they seemed extra special. It was like my sister had put a display on for me and my mum. All the firework displays don't even touch what nature delivers to us free.

Angie  :)

Words can not do justice to the emotions involved when we lose someone we love, it is wonderful that you have such  magical memories though.

Susan  :)
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: angie on January 26, 2012, 08:26:27 AM
I got fed up going out last night to have a look. I have seen it quite a few times here. The last time they put on a fantastic display was the day my sister died. The Northern lights have something magical and that night they seemed extra special. It was like my sister had put a display on for me and my mum. All the firework displays don't even touch what nature delivers to us free.

Angie  :)

Words can not do justice to the emotions involved when we lose someone we love, it is wonderful that you  have such  magical memories though.
Susan  :)

Nice to have the memories as you know.  :)
To cloudy a night last night to see anything.

Angie  :)
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Natalia on January 27, 2012, 06:41:04 AM
 Hoy, Aurora Borealis in Moscow it is possible to watch sometimes - I saw it in 2007, but this feeble semblance of beauty which you see in the north. And to see it it is possible if attentively to look in the sky.
By the way, it is possible a question?  When I watched Aurora Borealis in the winter on Kola peninsula, it seemed to me that the light publishes crackling sounds. It from Aurora Borealis or simply was frosty weather? :)
Title: Re: Aurora Borealis
Post by: Hoy on January 27, 2012, 10:38:50 PM
Hoy, Aurora Borealis in Moscow it is possible to watch sometimes - I saw it in 2007, but this feeble semblance of beauty which you see in the north. And to see it it is possible if attentively to look in the sky.
By the way, it is possible a question?  When I watched Aurora Borealis in the winter on Kola peninsula, it seemed to me that the light publishes crackling sounds. It from Aurora Borealis or simply was frosty weather? :)

Yes, a lot of people say they hear a crackling sound when they see the northern light but it has not been recorded by any instruments yet so far I know. The light is generated very high up in the atmosphere (90-120km, and up to 2-300km) so it is impossible to hear sounds from that altitude but the electric phenomenon that creates the light generates very high electric field that maybe produce sounds nearer to the ground.
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