Observation by Bill Ward: Perspective on Aurora

Uploaded by

Bill Ward

Observer

Bill Ward

Observed

2024 May 10 - 22:46

Uploaded

2024 May 15 - 18:17

Objects

Aurora

Equipment

Canon 350D + 8mm fisheye lens

Exposure

20 secs/ISO 800

Location

Kilwinning

Target name

Aurora 2024 05 10

Title

Perspective on Aurora

About this image

A little perspective on what we're actually looking at...

Files associated with this observation

Aurora 2024_05_10_11 Composition vs approximate height copy.jpg (324.7 kB)

Like this image

Alexandra Hart, Nick Quinn, Michael O'Connell, Callum Potter, Robin Leadbeater, Philip Jennings

Comments

Robin Leadbeater, 2024 May 16 - 22:12 UTC

As well as the usual OI lines which are seen faintly in my deep spectra even when there is no aurora, these N2+ bands in the blue/violet/UV were very intense in the spectrum.

https://britastro.org/observations/observation.php?id=20240512_005702_e46ea5c396cc84aa

(Many other fainter unidentified lines there too)

Robin

Bill Ward, 2024 May 18 - 16:42 UTC

Hi,

I'll bet they were, at out latitudes and the time of year the upper part of the aurora was in sunlight and the resonance scattering would have definitely made the lines more intense.

If we get some more large dislays during winter it'd be really interesting to see the difference in the UV/Blue emissions that aren't sunlit.

Your aurora spectrum is briliant, it's interesting you comment there are un-identified lines. you'd think the atmosphere would be quite well characterised! Are you seeing any Hydrogen and or Helium lines, that would be fascinating given the altitude and low concentrations where these gases are. Some of the lines might be oxides of meteoric origin also fluorescing. It was quite an event.

Cheers,

Bill.

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