Aurora Clayton Bay SA (now with video)

[Paul Haese]

Last night we were treated to an Auroral display which was faintly visible to all of us present but only such that we were asking each other if the sky appeared brighter in the south. Photographically though it was another matter.

I have quite a few images all in a row which I am hoping to make into a video with the help of the guys that do this all the time. I have no idea where to start.

I also have posted another image from the 11th of September which was another display but I was unsure if I was seeing aurora on that night. I think I can now confirm it was aurora.

My first and now I have ticked that off, a visible one would be great.

Click on this link to view the video. Sorry about the star colour transition, using auto white balance seemed to affect the overall colour when a car or someone put on their lights down the hill a bit.

[Lester]

Good stuff Paul, like a fire in the distance.

[stardust steve (Steve)]

Great Paul! Very nice colours.

[Peter.M]

Pictures came up well Paul

[paulosilvageo]

Hi Paul, this is my first post on this website and I am happy this first post in congratulating you for the image! I started following your work through the Deep Sky Videos!

Ok... I think I have an aurora in a couple of images I've taken with my Canon 20D, but it is hard to say as Ballarat (town) is in the same direction as the red "aurorish" lights come from.... tricky.

How did you know that it was time to get out and take the aurora pic?

Thank you!

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Nice photos, Paul

[apaulo (Paul)]

Well after 37 years without orbserving one nor imaging an Aurora, you finally done it.
Congratz Paul.

[CapturingTheNight (Greg)]

Very nice Paul I feel like jumping up to see if I can see more over the horizon.

[colinmlegg (Colin)]

Some nice variation in the clip, Paul. Yeah, next time head for the coast

[Paul Haese]

Thanks all, appreciate the responses.

Originally Posted by colinmlegg

Some nice variation in the clip, Paul. Yeah, next time head for the coast

Yes I have a good spot picked out. Might consider going down tonight for a couple of hours. K index is looking ok but not near 5 like it was. What is a good predictor?

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by paulosilvageo

Hi Paul, this is my first post on this website and I am happy this first post in congratulating you for the image! I started following your work through the Deep Sky Videos!

Ok... I think I have an aurora in a couple of images I've taken with my Canon 20D, but it is hard to say as Ballarat (town) is in the same direction as the red "aurorish" lights come from.... tricky.

How did you know that it was time to get out and take the aurora pic?

Thank you!

Actually it was just a guess. I knew there was a geomagnetic storm in play but actually just guessed.

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by apaulo

Well after 37 years without orbserving one nor imaging an Aurora, you finally done it.
Congratz Paul.

Thanks Paul and yes finally have one.

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Excellent pics and nice video Paul.


As far as a predictor goes, spaceweather.com is fairly good with their advanced heads up. They use NOAA data which is the same as the Australian Bureau of Meteorolgy use.

You can also subscribe for an alert here...
http://www.ips.gov.au/mailman/listinfo/ips-aurora-alert
Maybe you could find data from a southern magnetometer via there which could give a more localised heads up.

[colinmlegg (Colin)]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Might consider going down tonight for a couple of hours. K index is looking ok but not near 5 like it was. What is a good predictor?

I'm no expert, but I think 5 or above is what you'll need. I've done some timelapse from Albany with a 4 in play and only got very faint curtains close to the south ocean horizon.

I like the timeline on the NOAA site - http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/alerts_timeline.html

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys for the tips on prediction.

I can't go now because the cloud has thickened up and Colin you got it right it is now at 3 right now. I will put all the links in one folder and use them for an idea on when to go chasing. Hehehe another reason I will not be home. One day I will come home and the locks will be changed.

[RickS (Rick)]

Nicely done, Paul! I hope there's more to come...

[redbeard (Damien)]

Nice pics and vid Paul.

Takes me back to when I lived at Milang and Clayton was a frequent visiting spot. Saw Aurora back then but only by eye, although that was at Milang.

Cheers,

Damien.

[Adelastro1 (Wayne England)]

About bloody time Paul! Well done. I haven't seen one yet this cycle so will have to make sure I start heading out.

PS. I'm getting a new toy soon that just let's say 'will make travelling to better locations much easier!'

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by Adelastro1

PS. I'm getting a new toy soon that just let's say 'will make travelling to better locations much easier!'

A new rocket? I mean car?

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yeh that's pretty cool Paul and nice first time-lapse too

Guess I'll have to do one of those eventually...

Mike