Aurora Australis

[acropolite (Phil)]

I managed a couple of very average snapshots of the aurora last night, staggered out at 1AM half asleep, it was just visible to the naked eye at times and rapidly changing. I grabbed the 5DII but didn't bother with a tripod as HRH was sleeping.

There is some colour and if you look closely you can see the areas of pink and green. To the naked eye there were only patches of white. I saw an aurora in the 80's that had visible pinks and greens past to the zenith, I'll never forget the sight, the one thing I regret is not staying where I was camped to fully enjoy the spectacle.

The light in the foreground BTW is moonlight!

Had it been a new moon the sight would have been spectacular, here's hoping for more this year. The second shot was taken a few minutes earlier, I've pushed the contrast and saturation to bring out a bit more detail.

[Lester]

That is making the most of the given opportunity Phil. Atleast you got it. I have read that there is another aurora chance Sunday evening our time due to more Solar activity. The early evening sky then will be darker due Moon rising later.

All the best.

[acropolite (Phil)]

If that eventuates I'll be a bit better prepared. Often the problem is when to look, the last Aurora we saw from here was quite pronounced but really kicked in a couple of hours after we went to sleep. Unfortunately I'm not that good at all nighters.

[Deeno]

Originally Posted by acropolite

I managed a couple of very average snapshots of the aurora last night, staggered out at 1AM half asleep, it was just visible to the naked eye at times and rapidly changing. I grabbed the 5DII but didn't bother with a tripod as HRH was sleeping.

There is some colour and if you look closely you can see the areas of pink and green. To the naked eye there were only patches of white. I saw an aurora in the 80's that had visible pinks and greens past to the zenith, I'll never forget the sight, the one thing I regret is not staying where I was camped to fully enjoy the spectacle.

The light in the foreground BTW is moonlight!

Had it been a new moon the sight would have been spectacular, here's hoping for more this year. The second shot was taken a few minutes earlier, I've pushed the contrast and saturation to bring out a bit more detail.

Very nice point and shoot effort!

Pleased to see someone captured it last night as it would be pretty high on the "bucket list" of things to chase down and see!

[Liz]

Originally Posted by shelltree

Will be in Tassy on Monday, so will miss any chance of Aurora from the recent activity Let's hope for some more though while we're there!

You never know Shelley, keep a lookout!!

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

and Snake Valley Astro Camps align with the good months for Aurora: March and November

Feel free to come to camp on your way through to tassie

love to at some time, be great to catch up with a few people, though I know I will at the Solar eclipse.

Originally Posted by acropolite

I managed a couple of very average snapshots of the aurora last night, staggered out at 1AM half asleep, it was just visible to the naked eye at times and rapidly changing. I grabbed the 5DII but didn't bother with a tripod as HRH was sleeping.

There is some colour and if you look closely you can see the areas of pink and green. To the naked eye there were only patches of white. I saw an aurora in the 80's that had visible pinks and greens past to the zenith, I'll never forget the sight, the one thing I regret is not staying where I was camped to fully enjoy the spectacle.

The light in the foreground BTW is moonlight!

Had it been a new moon the sight would have been spectacular, here's hoping for more this year. The second shot was taken a few minutes earlier, I've pushed the contrast and saturation to bring out a bit more detail.

I would be very happy to see that Phil!! great images with bful country scape foreground too.

[GraemeT (Graeme)]

I saw the Aurora only once, and that was when I had no idea of the physics behind it. I was camped at Port Arthur in Tas. with my young kids nearly 30 years ago. We had been fascinated by the seemingly endless procession of satellites, presumably in polar orbits, as we sat around our campfire. Then this spectacular green curtain shot up from the south, weaving and pulsing for what seemed to be an hour. The whole family just sat and enjoyed the spectacle.