Starship Asterisk*

Aurora Georgia

Explanation: A familiar sight from Georgia, USA, the Moon sets near the western horizon in this rural night skyscape. Captured on May 10 before local midnight, the image overexposes the Moon's bright waning crescent at left in the frame. A long irrigation rig stretches across farmland about 15 miles north of the city of Bainbridge. Shimmering curtains of aurora shine across the starry sky though, definitely an unfamiliar sight for southern Georgia nights. Last weekend, extreme geomagnetic storms triggered by the recent intense activity from solar active region AR 3664 brought epic displays of aurora, usually seen closer to the poles, to southern Georgia and even lower latitudes on planet Earth. As solar activity ramps up, more storms are possible.

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It's really beautiful.

O roar a roar for Nora
Nora Alice in the night
For she has seen Aurora Borealis burning bright
A furor for our Nora
And applaud Aurora seen!
Where throughout the summer has our Borealis been?
- Walt Kelly, from Pogo

Aurora Georgia?

Sorry, I couldn't help thinking of something like this...


Ann

"...the Moon's bright waning crescent at left in the frame." Typo, should be waxing.

Ann wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:00 am Aurora Georgia?

Sorry, I couldn't help thinking of something like this...


Aurora Georgia.png

Ann

Aurora Georgialis!

That link to the Youtube video sure is impressive.


But what caused that bright flash a 00:00:33 seconds into it, quickly followed by a seemingly remnant "thumbprint" on the image? A passing car headlight?

johnnydeep wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:00 pm That link to the Youtube video sure is impressive.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

But what caused that bright flash a 00:00:33 seconds into it, quickly followed by a seemingly remnant "thumbprint" on the image? A passing car headlight?


georgia aurora video still.jpg

The photographer of today's APOD here. Yes that's what it was. Headlights from friends arriving to shoot, and cars from the highway. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of quick access to the field and because this was my first time photographing an aurora, I wanted to have quick access to my camera in case anything changed. An embankment on the other side of the road kept me from setting up there and I was also in an area I was unfamiliar with so wanted to be by my car in case something happened.

wrightdobbs wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:24 pm

johnnydeep wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:00 pm That link to the Youtube video sure is impressive.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

But what caused that bright flash a 00:00:33 seconds into it, quickly followed by a seemingly remnant "thumbprint" on the image? A passing car headlight?


georgia aurora video still.jpg

The photographer of today's APOD here. Yes that's what it was. Headlights from friends arriving to shoot, and cars from the highway. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of quick access to the field and because this was my first time photographing an aurora, I wanted to have quick access to my camera in case anything changed. An embankment on the other side of the road kept me from setting up there and I was also in an area I was unfamiliar with so wanted to be by my car in case something happened.

Ok, thanks. And the video turned out great!

johnnydeep wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:27 pm

wrightdobbs wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:24 pm

johnnydeep wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:00 pm That link to the Youtube video sure is impressive.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

But what caused that bright flash a 00:00:33 seconds into it, quickly followed by a seemingly remnant "thumbprint" on the image? A passing car headlight?


georgia aurora video still.jpg

The photographer of today's APOD here. Yes that's what it was. Headlights from friends arriving to shoot, and cars from the highway. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of quick access to the field and because this was my first time photographing an aurora, I wanted to have quick access to my camera in case anything changed. An embankment on the other side of the road kept me from setting up there and I was also in an area I was unfamiliar with so wanted to be by my car in case something happened.

Ok, thanks. And the video turned out great!

Thank you! I had another camera I was shooting with but the widest focal length was 28mm on that one. I had a timelapse going and the reason it stops and skips around is because I had to use that camera to get the shot I was hoping for and when ended up being today's APOD. After the image, I then saw the cool scene to the west which is why the timelapse moves to that direction for the second part. The whole timelapse spanned about 1 hour and 13 minutes in real time (including the gap I used to get the still shots and panorama).

Wonderful Marvelous!

One of my favorite images from the Aurora/SAR so far.