[cwjames]

Hi All,

Not so long ago I was scanning one of my print film negative strips when I came across this picture I had taken years before but never seen of a Aurora Australis.

Based on other photos on the negative strip and my memory, I estimate this photo was taken in the early 80's. I remember taking the photo but not the date. Rosalie and I were travelling home in a northerly direction from a dance at Woodanilling with this view in the rear of the car. When we arrived home I set up the camera on a tripod and took this image at approx 1am. My curiosity then started to get the better of me as I tried to narrow down the actual date.

Here are the known facts.


Location where photo was taken: Wagin 33 Degrees 18 Min 26.95 South 117 Degrees 20 Min 37.1 East

Time: Between midnight and 1 am (Also the most likely time of viewing an Aurora)

Date: Based on the star positions in the photo and the approx time, it confirms the photo was taken between February and March.

Day: Saturday Night - Sunday morning.

Direction: Camera was pointed toward the southern horizon. (The power line in the image runs due south)


I cannot think of any scientific way of narrowing down the actual year based on the data in the image. If known Aurora sightings were recorded somewhere, I could check for sightings in Feb / March in the early 80's. The last Solar maxim was in 2001 and going back two solar sunspot cycles put a solar max at 2001 - 11 = 1990 - 11 = 1979. Now a solar flare can occur at any time, however the chances of one occurring close to the Solar Maximum are greater so the year being in the early 80's seem to be good.

Check out the picture at the url below and see if you agree with my findings so far. Give the image some time as it's an animated gif file which shows which stars I have identified to make my conclusions, you may disagree with me.


http://www.cwjames.info/astro/galler...ld-003-thm.gif

http://www.cwjames.info/astro/gallery/widefield/widefield-003.php


If you can confirm the actual date, or narrow it down, please let me know !

I will try doing a search on the internet to find if any recordings of Aurora siteings have been made in the early 80's.

Thanks
Chris