APOD: Aurora Australis (2015 Jul 04)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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APOD Robot
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APOD: Aurora Australis (2015 Jul 04)

Post by APOD Robot » Sat Jul 04, 2015 4:10 am

Image Aurora Australis

Explanation: Not fireworks, these intense shimmering lights still danced across Earth's night skies late last month, seen here above the planet's geographic south pole. The stunning auroral displays were triggered as a coronal mass ejection blasted from the Sun days earlier impacted the magnetosphere, beginning a widespread geomagnetic storm. The six fisheye panels were recorded with digital camera and battery in a heated box to guard against -90 degree F ambient temperatures of the long winter night. Around the horizon are south pole astronomical observatories, while beyond the Aurora Australis stretch the stars of the southern Milky Way.

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Boomer12k
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Re: APOD: Aurora Australis (2015 Jul 04)

Post by Boomer12k » Sat Jul 04, 2015 6:12 pm

Awesome display....

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LocalColor
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Re: APOD: Aurora Australis (2015 Jul 04)

Post by LocalColor » Sun Jul 05, 2015 7:20 am

Very extreme conditions, beauty and science. :)

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DavidLeodis
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Re: APOD: Aurora Australis (2015 Jul 04)

Post by DavidLeodis » Sun Jul 05, 2015 11:30 am

There is some interesting information brought up through links in Robert's website. For example in information I've just seen through the 'Current South Pole Weather' link it states "Conditions at Jul 05, 2015 - 01:50 AM EDT. 2015.07.05 0550 UTC. Wind from the SE (140 degrees) at 8 MPH (7 KT). Visibility greater than 7 mile(s). Sky conditions clear. Temperature -103 F (-75 C). Windchill -139 F (-95 C)". Brrrr that's :brr:.

PS. I probably should have known (or guessed) but I had to look it up and found the KT will be knots.