APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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APOD Robot
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APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by APOD Robot » Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:06 am

Image September Aurora

Explanation: September's equinox arrives tomorrow as the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. The event marks the astronomical beginning of spring in the southern hemisphere and autumn in the north. And though the connection is still puzzling, the equinox seasons bring an increase in geomagnetic storms. So as northern nights grow longer, the equinox also heralds the arrival of a good season for aurora hunters. Recorded on September 20, these colorful northern lights were captured with camera and wide-angle lens near the Norwegian Sea coast outside Tromsø in Northern Norway. Shining at altitudes of 100 kilometers or so, the aurora rays are parallel, but perspective makes them appear to radiate from a vanishing point behind the silhouetted pine tree. Stars in this enchanting northern night include Polaris above and right of the tree top, and yellowish giant stars Shedar (Alpha Cassiopiae) to the left and Kochab (Beta Ursae Minoris) to the right. Bright Altair shines through the greenish auroral curtain at the lower left of the scene.

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Ann
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Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by Ann » Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:38 am

This is a very striking and good-looking APOD. The pine tree looks like some sort of firecracker spouting stars and colored lights.

Beautiful!

Ann
Color Commentator

george edwards

Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by george edwards » Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:32 am

I see a bright star above and right of the tree as indicated for Polaris, the north star, but do not see
the little dipper constellation it is part of. Why?

Locutus

Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by Locutus » Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:56 am

I'm also having trouble finding the mentioned stars, other than Polaris...

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Indigo_Sunrise
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Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by Indigo_Sunrise » Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:07 am

I'll take a stab at it:
aurora2012sep20.jpg
I've circled the three stars in question - Shedar, Kochab and Altair - now here's hoping they are correct. I'm sure other forumites will be along to fix my bads, if needed! :mrgreen:
Anyway, hope that helps!


p.s. Pretty APOD!
:thumb_up:
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Boomer12k
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Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by Boomer12k » Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:51 pm

Pretty APOD!!! :D


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Moonlady
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Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by Moonlady » Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:44 pm

Wow, pretty big aurorae! Great angle!

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LocalColor
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Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by LocalColor » Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:57 pm

Wonderful photo today!

(It is too smoky where we live to see the sky - telescope sits and waits.)

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Joe Stieber
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Re: APOD: September Aurora (2012 Sep 21)

Post by Joe Stieber » Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:27 pm

Locutus wrote:I'm also having trouble finding the mentioned stars, other than Polaris...
Here's my labeled version...

Image