PDA

View Full Version : Northern Lights@Thurso Beach.


Mystical Potato Head
16-Feb-10, 00:15
Got a bit of a surprise when i saw the tell tale glow to the North when i went out in the garden to view some stars,Made a mad dash down to the beach.Unfortunately by the time i got there the display was weaking.Yes its a dog in the first pic,the owner also walked by right in front of the camera...TWICE.Space Weather.com did say there was a 35% chance of aurora over the next two nights.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo189/sat5_photos/IMG_5319flickr-1.jpg

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo189/sat5_photos/IMG_5323flickr.jpg
Kenn
16-Feb-10, 00:26
GRRRR, drat and other unprintable oaths.
Have been trying to get a glimpse of an aurora for more years than I care to mention.
Well caught and what sort of time was it?
Mystical Potato Head
16-Feb-10, 00:34
Around 9...just been out (11.30)and the display has brightened again.
Kenn
16-Feb-10, 00:50
Yippee I've seen some great curtain lights in the last 30 mins hope it comes back.
kas
16-Feb-10, 01:30
They are great MPH. Love the foreground. I too tried after noticing them at half ten. However if I try to downsize them for posting they pixilate pretty bad and look terrible.

I was using high ISO to get anything decent to show so the results are a bit noisy. I could also have been having trouble as I forgot to change the WB setting, only remebered this whilst driving home. Had the cloud not come over I would still be out trying.
Mystical Potato Head
16-Feb-10, 01:39
They are great MPH. Love the foreground. I too tried after noticing them at half ten. However if I try to downsize them for posting they pixilate pretty bad and look terrible.

I was using high ISO to get anything decent to show so the results are a bit noisey. I could also have been having trouble as I forgot to change the WB setting, only remebered this whilst driving home. Had the cloud not come over I would still be out trying.

Mine are noisy too,i tried iso200 to start with but but it was pretty faint,it wasnt the brightest display but its hopefully the start of more to come,the next solar cycle peaks around 2012 so displays should get brighter and higher as we reach the peak.
Love to see those big wavy curtain effect ones right over head,here's hoping.
Sporran
16-Feb-10, 03:16
Lovely pics, MPH. :cool: I'm *green* with envy, as it's been years since I've seen seen an Aurora Borealis!
Thumper
16-Feb-10, 09:34
Great pics as always MPH,but is it just me or if you look at where the water meets the sand in the first pic it looks like there is a headless body standing posing :eek: x
Deemac
16-Feb-10, 11:49
Great pics as always MPH,but is it just me or if you look at where the water meets the sand in the first pic it looks like there is a headless body standing posing :eek: x

That would be the dog MPH mentioned in his post! - Great shot MPH, must try and get this myself one day
Thumper
16-Feb-10, 12:12
Oops!Must wear my glasses when reading posts in future!Sorry didnt notice that bit :o x
astroman
16-Feb-10, 18:21
Great captures MPH. They were pretty bright last night - I spotted them from the back garden when I popped outside to photograph Vesta. Unfortunately before I could get to a darker site the clouds arrived :~(.

I use www.spaceweather.com (http://www.spaceweather.com), but recently found out about another good (better?) site for aurorae forecasts through Jim Johnstons monthly astronomy slot on Caithness FM. Check out http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/auroraforecast/ - it accurately forecast clear views of aurorae in northern Scotland last night.
Mystical Potato Head
16-Feb-10, 18:32
Great captures MPH. They were pretty bright last night - I spotted them from the back garden when I popped outside to photograph Vesta. Unfortunately before I could get to a darker site the clouds arrived :~(.

I use www.spaceweather.com (http://www.spaceweather.com), but recently found out about another good (better?) site for aurorae forecasts through Jim Johnstons monthly astronomy slot on Caithness FM. Check out http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/auroraforecast/ - it accurately forecast clear views of aurorae in northern Scotland last night.

I usually go by the aurora oval map and keppler index on spaceweather.com
Will try out the other site and see how its predictions are.
North Light
16-Feb-10, 22:40
mph,

Excellent shots, I missed it altogether.
Liz
17-Feb-10, 14:30
What great photos.

I missed the Northern Lights but this kind of makes up for it.:D
Aaldtimer
17-Feb-10, 15:55
Had to laugh at this article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8510377.stm

If only we could!;)
Mystical Potato Head
24-Feb-10, 13:36
Had to laugh at this article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8510377.stm

If only we could!;)

If only indeed.Mind you ,they woudnt be so special if they happened all the time.
Sarah
24-Feb-10, 20:23
Wow, beautiful!
kara
24-Feb-10, 20:43
Wow they are Stunning :Razz
redeyedtreefrog
24-Feb-10, 20:59
You could claim that first one as a "ghost" pic :D
Mystical Potato Head
25-Feb-10, 10:03
You could claim that first one as a "ghost" pic :D

Shows just how easy it is to "fake" ghost images.