AURORAS!!!

Aurora's over RaySat.
My hunt to photograph auroras started in early April when it first started getting dark. I only went out a few times, but I did see some great auroras. Unfortunately, when I came back from those walks it was clear I didn't know how to use my camera. All of my pictures were black. After a few frustrating attempts at trying to figure out my cold metal camera with frozen fingers while auroras were going on, I took the time to figure out what I needed to do inside where it was warm. I thought I was all set to go. Then, I sprained my ankle so I couldn't hike and auroras are usually washed out by the town lights so it appeared I'd be out of luck for a while.


This photo is too underexposed to show a good aurora, but this is the closest I got to what they really look like to the human eye.


This photo is also part of the learning process. The auroras look neat, but town looks like it was just zapped by aliens.
About six weeks ago, I was cleared to start hiking again. I was a little tentative to get out again. When I finally did, no auroras. This past month I only saw starts on TWO day. Not two hiking days, two total days. We've been pretty clouded in. On Friday, that cloud cover finally broke and was planning to go for a hike. Additionally, Antz sent out an e-mail letting us know that it was also a good aurora day. Auroras can be forecast. I'm not entirely sure how, but this is the page for forecasts: http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/


Auroras over Crater Hill.
I hiked the Hut Ridge trail and before we got very far along at all, the sky behind us was lit up. Beautiful.

Me, unable to stay still for twenty seconds. Not a surprise.