APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

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Expand view Topic review: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by SebastienP » Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:36 pm

Stéphane, do you think you could film an aurora in 3D? I think this would require that a friend of yours films the same spot somewhere in the sky while you are some kilometers away. Just dreaming of it on my flatscreen :mrgreen:

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by geckzilla » Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:41 pm

neufer wrote:
bystander wrote:
I'm rather certain that Stéphane is a guy. I think this conversation has happened before.
The best way to get a Wikipedia article about yourself is to play sports. Also, there is at least one woman on the list... maybe more! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_Audran

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by neufer » Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:53 pm

bystander wrote:
I'm rather certain that Stéphane is a guy. I think this conversation has happened before.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by captainwiggins48 » Wed Jun 03, 2015 2:32 pm

When I saw pulsating aurora in Alaska the who sky was involved. I had the impression that it was the result of solar radiation interacting with the atmosphere, which we know causes aurora. However, in this case you could see the solar wind enter the atmosphere and quickly speed across the sky from horizon to horizon which caused a rapid "pulsation" effect. So that's my theory for the cause: solar wind.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by bystander » Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:29 am

I'm rather certain that Stéphane is a guy. I think this conversation has happened before.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by DavidLeodis » Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:06 pm

rwlott wrote:I, too, don't mind the occasional, infrequent video. In this particular case, I don't see how a still picture could have conveyed to essence of this phenomenon. And for me, the most interesting aspect of today's entry is knowing that these images were not shown in time-lapse. I don't know what the photographer's intentions where when she walked in front of camera, but doing so very effectively demonstrates that the pulsations are depicted in real time—and if that was the sole intent, then kudos for thinking of it.
I'm having trouble readily finding information about Stéphane but had thought that name is Stephen and so the photographer was male. Unless you knew about Stéphane you have better eyesight than me rwlott to indentify Stéphane as female from the video! :wink:

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by alter-ego » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:10 am

rwlott wrote:I, too, don't mind the occasional, infrequent video. In this particular case, I don't see how a still picture could have conveyed to essence of this phenomenon. And for me, the most interesting aspect of today's entry is knowing that these images were not shown in time-lapse. I don't know what the photographer's intentions where when she walked in front of camera, but doing so very effectively demonstrates that the pulsations are depicted in real time—and if that was the sole intent, then kudos for thinking of it.
My view exactly.
Here at my house, I was treated to an amazing pulsating aurora in 2004. Unlike the today's AVOD, the one I witnessed was incredibly symmetric. Not only did I see a very large auroral corona directly overhead (at first I thought the sky was clouded out LOL!), there were concentric annular rings, maybe 5°to 10°thick, starting from the convergence point and propagating outward to edges of the corona where the rings would disappear. Only one ring at a time would form but they each would traverse the display in a fraction of a second, and they appeared at the rate a couple or few times a second. I felt like I was in a huge, old sci-fi tractor beam! I've never seen (nor hear of) anything like it before or since, and today is the first I've seen pulsating auroras mentioned let alone a video. Every time I think about this experience I wish I had a video of it. My words really don't do it justice.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by LocalColor » Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:30 pm

Thank you Stephane Vetter, that was very nice video and the "Litríkur Stormur" was fantastic!

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by NateWhilk » Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:52 pm

Nuitsacrees wrote:I recommend the main course, "Litríkur Stormur" ( Color Storm in icelandic)
The segment starting at 4:50--Incredible! Magnificent! Merci beaucoup!

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by rwlott » Mon Jun 01, 2015 6:48 pm

I, too, don't mind the occasional, infrequent video. In this particular case, I don't see how a still picture could have conveyed to essence of this phenomenon. And for me, the most interesting aspect of today's entry is knowing that these images were not shown in time-lapse. I don't know what the photographer's intentions where when she walked in front of camera, but doing so very effectively demonstrates that the pulsations are depicted in real time—and if that was the sole intent, then kudos for thinking of it.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Chris Peterson » Mon Jun 01, 2015 6:00 pm

geckzilla wrote:I'm guessing that most people who upload their videos do not enable the download option.
Probably not. But it's nice for those of us with slow Internet. And you can download any of the videos using third party tools, so there's little protective value in disabling that option.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Ron-Astro Pharmacist » Mon Jun 01, 2015 5:50 pm

I can't imagine what early hominids thought of auroras. Maybe it's the sound on the video but the shapes they create almost seem angelic pulsating as they move across the sky.
Angel Aurora.jpg
Angel Aurora.jpg (3.78 KiB) Viewed 9435 times
Edit - Here are a few examples from a quick search.

http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/ ... pretations

http://www.amscan.org/pdf/Fall08AuroraBorealis.pdf

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/njordrljos.shtml

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by geckzilla » Mon Jun 01, 2015 5:42 pm

I'm guessing that most people who upload their videos do not enable the download option.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by thermium » Mon Jun 01, 2015 5:39 pm

...between time 0:04 and 0:12 at the beginning.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by thermium » Mon Jun 01, 2015 5:36 pm

The stars looked OK to me, remember that the light of the aurora is added to the light of the stars, no blocking of the background light occurs. The stars would then, sort of, pulsate a little themselves as the intensity of the light varied. If you look 2/3 of the way across from the left and about 1/4 of the way from the top, there is a planet or something moving against the stars toward the bottom.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Chris Peterson » Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:34 pm

Nuitsacrees wrote:
Chris Peterson wrote:I don't have a problem with the occasional video. Unfortunately, my Internet quality means I can't really stream them, however. I wish that more were available for direct download. As it is, I have to use a third party capture tool to snag the video from Vimeo in order to properly view it from my computer. That's a lot of trouble... enough that I only do it with videos that really catch my interest. This one hasn't risen to that level, so I haven't yet seen it. I may or may not.
You can directly download this video from Vimeo : https://vimeo.com/128714112 , tab "download"
Stephane
Thanks! Never noticed that option before.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Nuitsacrees » Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:01 pm

Chris Peterson wrote:
geckzilla wrote:Whether or not you think APOD should feature videos from time to time, today's moving picture would have been much less compelling without the video. I have never seen a pulsating aurora before, even as a video. I wouldn't know what to make of the picture if it were a still photo and the description told of the photographer's experience and that the aurora was pulsating. There are many ways in which a thing could be described as pulsating and the quickest way to make it clear is with a video. So, thanks, Stéphane.
I don't have a problem with the occasional video. Unfortunately, my Internet quality means I can't really stream them, however. I wish that more were available for direct download. As it is, I have to use a third party capture tool to snag the video from Vimeo in order to properly view it from my computer. That's a lot of trouble... enough that I only do it with videos that really catch my interest. This one hasn't risen to that level, so I haven't yet seen it. I may or may not.
You can directly download this video from Vimeo : https://vimeo.com/128714112 , tab "download"
Stephane

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Chris Peterson » Mon Jun 01, 2015 2:24 pm

geckzilla wrote:Whether or not you think APOD should feature videos from time to time, today's moving picture would have been much less compelling without the video. I have never seen a pulsating aurora before, even as a video. I wouldn't know what to make of the picture if it were a still photo and the description told of the photographer's experience and that the aurora was pulsating. There are many ways in which a thing could be described as pulsating and the quickest way to make it clear is with a video. So, thanks, Stéphane.
I don't have a problem with the occasional video. Unfortunately, my Internet quality means I can't really stream them, however. I wish that more were available for direct download. As it is, I have to use a third party capture tool to snag the video from Vimeo in order to properly view it from my computer. That's a lot of trouble... enough that I only do it with videos that really catch my interest. This one hasn't risen to that level, so I haven't yet seen it. I may or may not.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Animal of Stone » Mon Jun 01, 2015 11:20 am

Does not matter how or why this effect is produced. Am sure the video is not out there to manipulate. Stand back and take in the awe.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Ann » Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:50 am

Nuitsacrees wrote:Hello,
Thank you to appreciate. Sorry, Dr. Bob, but transcribe a phenomenon so dynamic, is impossible, other than with a video. For technical reasons, the filmed portions are quite narrow (full frame camera, 24mm lens, F1,4). To the naked eye, it seemed a flow of energy, extremely fast, that were flashing all the sky. Anyway, it was something very impressive. Another observation is that, blinking are red (the camera is modified to be more sensitive in the H-alpha radiation). Especially for Ann, "Pulsating Aurora" is an appetizer, I recommend the main course, "Litríkur Stormur" ( Color Storm in icelandic) :
Stephane Vetter
Beautiful video, Stephane! Particularly, for me, the amazing bluish aurora in the first part of it. But it is all very beautiful.

Ann

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by hoohaw » Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:25 am

The video was great, and it ran smoothly even on my relatively old Mac. And seeing it took me back to my youth in Canada, seeing this kind of thing from time to time in the heavens above! Good work as usual, APOD!

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Nuitsacrees » Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:17 am

Hello,
Thank you to appreciate. Sorry, Dr. Bob, but transcribe a phenomenon so dynamic, is impossible, other than with a video. For technical reasons, the filmed portions are quite narrow (full frame camera, 24mm lens, F1,4). To the naked eye, it seemed a flow of energy, extremely fast, that were flashing all the sky. Anyway, it was something very impressive. Another observation is that, blinking are red (the camera is modified to be more sensitive in the H-alpha radiation). Especially for Ann, "Pulsating Aurora" is an appetizer, I recommend the main course, "Litríkur Stormur" ( Color Storm in icelandic) :
Stephane Vetter

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by geckzilla » Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:39 am

Ann wrote:Looks like some of the stars are pulsating, too.
I noticed that. I think it might be a quirk with how the camera works, some kind of compression thing, and atmospheric twinkling on top of one or both of those.

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by failed phd candidate » Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:49 am

I don't think an Aurora is a pulsating phenomenon. Rather, it appears to be an optical illusion due to atmospheric activity in the upper atmosphere of the Earth. Or, the pulsating appearance may be the result of sunlight bouncing off the ionic fabric of the Aurora. Whatever the explanation, it is a topic which deserves research and plenty of funding. There is at least one other reason why an Aurora appears to pulsate. However, rather than spill my brains out for an issue without compensation I will let it go here sorry ..

Re: APOD: Pulsating Aurora over Iceland (2015 Jun 01)

by Ann » Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:42 am

Looks like some of the stars are pulsating, too.

Ann

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