An Aurora Storm

 Was just about to write a post about autumn colours, when I looked outside, and noticed a faint glow in the sky. An initial photo seemed to reveal a faint pink glow, but when I went out again about 15 minutes later, the glow in the sky was visible to the naked eye.

Turn a phone camera to it in night sight mode, and by golly, you get spectacular results!

The Glorious Aurora

 Friday night, as I'm sure all my readers know, saw what I suspect was the greatest auroral display seen in this country in my lifetime, with only the event of March 1989 coming close. 

Early in the evening, I'd noticed reports on social media of the aurora being visible in Europe, but hadn't seen any reports from the UK. However, when I left my home at about 1130pm in order to nip across the road to the pub, I noticed what looked like blue clouds directly overhead.

On a hunch, I used the night mode on my phone to take a shot; with the greater light gathering mode, vivid blue arcs were revealed. 

Walking further round the road, a bright band was seen extending across the sky, a photo of this revealed a lurid violet sunset effect stretching across the sky. This was definitely the aurora. Social feeds from the UK revealed picture after picture, most more spectacular than mine. 

It didn't look too good to the naked eye amidst the streetlights, but the photos revealed a lot more. I did a bit of outreach in the pub garden, and soon more photos were being taken. 

I hope you got the chance to see it!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.05.24

The Great Aurora Storm of 17th March 2015

March must be a favoured month for Auroral storms. The only time I've ever seen the Northern Lights was on 13th March 1989, the great magnetic event that knocked out the electricity in Canada. An excitable teenager, I remember looking out of my bedroom and thinking the sky looked somehow rather odd and "green", and running out back to find what looked like sunset taking place overhead.

There was an red-orange band stretching through the zenith from one horizon to another, while in the northern skies, great billowing curtains of green shimmered. I phoned up Patrick Moore, his phone was constantly engaged. I phoned up an astronomy loving friend, sadly poor Elanor couldn't see anything despite the ranting assurances of her telephonal adviser.

So, I was pretty excited when I saw reports of a huge geo-magnetic storm brewing in our atmosphere, and a near certainty of auroral displays being assured. Initially the night was cloudy, but it began to clear; Jupiter was soon piercing the clouds after sunset.

And as the sky cleared, there was indeed an orange glow low in the north. But of course, it was the light of the industrial estate reflecting off a thickening haze. I kept looking out, but it was pointless. By midnight, the haze had become a for so thick visibility was down to 25 metres or less, and any aurorae above me could have been forming love hearts in the sky and I'd never have noticed.

The glorious pictures I saw from all over the UK, some from far further south than here, demonstrated that the aurora put on a fabulous display for many people. But sadly, not in the East Midlands.

Me, I just photographed the fog. Great,

Si

Magnolia by night

The vapour drifts by

Disappearing bicycle

Illuminating the mist

Streetlamp through shrubbery

Across the park

Like "Close Encounters"