Aberdeenshire Aurora 22nd Jan 2012

[Trull]

I watch SpaceWeather.com and with the Kp index >5 with the Bz index heading South that meant there was good chance of aurora.

This wasn't an outstanding display, but nonetheless fun to watch and try to photograph on my 18-55mm kit zoom lens attached to EOS-350D (Ha modded) on a simple tripod. I controlled the camera on a PowerBook via USB as exposures were <30secs using Nebulosity to set focus accurately on the stars. This gives me instant feedback on the histogram - so I can check I'm taking as short a exposure as possible to minimise star trails/try to capture individual rays stroking across the auroral arc.

You can see a red area above the yellow arc which indicates different gasses giving off different wavelengths of light, just like a neon discharge tube.

Comments/thoughts are very welcome.

20sec exposure

f/4.5

1600iso

RAW capture

Nebulosity + Gimp curves

[JonH]

Lovely shot, the tree line makes for an interesting foreground. I really envy you guys up north for getting to see this.

[Ratlet]

Cracking picture Trull. I have a sneaking suspicion that there are going to be A LOT of Aurora questions at the AAS meeting in Stonehaven.

[Zul]

Very nice! Today in Lithuania will be aurora too But it is cloudy.. so i don't know if we will see it..

[Beyond_Vision]

Really nice, thanks for sharing it with us

Regards

Kevin

[Bloosman]

Cracking picture sir....

I took a load back in 2003 on a small compact digital...must look them out....