APOD: Yukon Aurora with Star Trails (2010 Mar 11)

[APOD Robot]

Yukon Aurora with Star Trails

Explanation: Fixed to a tripod, a camera can record graceful trails traced by stars as planet Earth rotates on its axis. But at high latitudes during March and April, it can also capture an aurora shimmering in the night. In fact, the weeks surrounding the equinox, in both spring and fall, offer a favorable season for aurora hunters. The possibilities are demonstrated in this beautiful moonlit vista from northwestern Canadian territory the Yukon. It was taken during the early morning of March 1, off the Klondike Highway about 60 kilometers south of Dawson City. To compose the picture, many short exposures were digitally combined to follow the concentric star trail arcs while including the greenish auroral curtains also known as the northern lights.

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[owlice]

Thanks for the link to this page; if I had ever read about the "magnetic ropes" which help fuel auroral substorms, I'd forgotten about them.

Next year for spring vacation: Alaska for auroras!

[biddie67]

Some 35 years ago, on a visit to friends in Northern New York State, I was fortunate enough to see the aurora on 2 nights running. Standing outside, all bundled up against the very cold night temps, it was a wonderful awe-expiring experience!

[owlice]

Oooooh, lucky you! I have wanted to see auroras since I was in the 4th grade and "aurora borealis" was on my spelling list! I used to stand outside the inside-the-DC-Beltway house I grew up in staring into the northern sky just hoping dreaming wishing I'd see an aurora! Not only was the latitude against me, but so was my bedtime, alas.