MARSTOWN OBSERVATORY

Aurora Borealis

October 30, 2003

The following images were shot from Marstown Observatory between 18:19 and 19:54 EST on Thursday, October 29, 2003 (23:19 10/30 - 00:54 10/31 UTC). All images were taken on 35 mm 400 speed film using a 24mm lens. A waxing crescent moon was setting in the western sky.

Click on any of the thumbnails below to see larger image.

457 KB	28mm f4, 30 sec. @ 18:40 EST (23:53 UTC Oct. 30) Residence in foreground, aurora in background.
441 KB	28mm f4, 30 sec. @ 18:54 EST (23:54 UTC Oct. 30) House "on fire." Notice the north star, Polaris, above the roof's peak, and Ursa Minor extending to its left.

October 29, 2003

The following images were shot from Marstown Observatory between 19:40 and 21:05 EST on Thursday, October 29, 2003 (00:40-02:05 UTC Oct. 30). All images were taken on 35 mm 400 speed film using a 24mm lens. A waxing crescent moon was setting in the western sky.

Click on any of the thumbnails below to see larger image.

391 KB	28mm f8, 20 sec. @ 19:40 EST (00:40 UTC Oct. 30) Clouds backlit by aurora. Dome in lower left.
320 KB	28mm f8, 30 sec. @ 19:42 EST (00:42 UTC Oct. 30) Spikes among the reddish glow and dark backlit clouds in foreground. Dome in lower left. In the full sized version, notice the head of Draco near the upper left corner, Draco's body top center, and the bowl of the little dipper, Ursa Minor, in the upper right.
458 KB	28mm f8, 45 sec. @ 19:49 EST (00:49 UTC Oct. 30) Contrast bright red with dark sky at left. Look for the constellation Hercules in the upper left of the full sized image.
441 KB	28mm f4, 30 sec. @ 19:54 EST (00:54 UTC Oct. 30) Looking toward southwest horizon for "Northern Lights." Notice the southern constellation Cetus located in the center of the full sized image.

November 05, 2001

The following images were shot from Marstown Observatory between 22:20 and 23:00 EST on November 5, 2001 (03:20-04:00 UTC Nov. 6). All images were taken on 35 mm 800 speed film using a 24mm lens. A waning gibbous moon was rising in the east adding some illumination to foreground objects.

Click on any of the thumbnails below to see larger image.

271 KB	30 sec. @ 22:20 EST (03:20 UTC Nov. 6) Landscape oriented view of dome showing aurora's vivid green and red colors.
124 KB	30 sec. @ 22:22 EST (03:22 UTC Nov. 6) Portrait oriented view of dome showing aurora's vivid green and red colors.
431 KB	30 sec. @ 22:28 EST (03:28 UTC Nov. 6) Green auroral curtain.
363 KB	30 sec. @ 22:30 EST (03:30 UTC Nov. 6) Dome on right; green and red aurora on left.
368 KB	30 sec. @ 22:42 EST (03:42 UTC Nov. 6) Specular reflection from Moon can be seen on dome.
133 KB	15 sec. @ 22:55 EST (03:55 UTC Nov. 6)
164 KB	30 sec. @ 23:00 EST (04:00 UTC Nov. 6) Moonlight illuminates dome seen with aurora in background.

Click on the following links to learn more about MTO:

URL of this page: http://www.marstown.org/aurora/.

Contact the MTO Director at marstown@gmail.com.

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