APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

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APOD Robot
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APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by APOD Robot » Mon Oct 31, 2016 4:05 am

Image Ghost Aurora over Canada

Explanation: What does this aurora look like to you? While braving the cold to watch the skies above northern Canada early one morning in 2013, a most unusual aurora appeared. The aurora definitely appeared to be shaped like something , but what? Two ghostly possibilities recorded by the astrophotographer were "witch" and "goddess of dawn", but please feel free to suggest your own Halloween-enhanced impressions. Regardless of fantastical pareidolic interpretations, the pictured aurora had a typical green color and was surely caused by the scientifically commonplace action of high energy particles from space interacting with oxygen in Earth's upper atmosphere. In the image foreground, at the bottom, is a frozen Alexandra Falls, while evergreen trees cross the middle.

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Isnluce

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Isnluce » Mon Oct 31, 2016 4:43 am

The Aurora looks like a female Deity or Spirit with an Eagle flying over head.
Beautifu!!!

Botswana O'Hooligan

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Botswana O'Hooligan » Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:32 am

I would call it an angel aurora for that's what it looks like to this old aviator.

claymartinek@gmail.com

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by claymartinek@gmail.com » Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:47 am

The lady and the hawk! From the movie Ladyhawke. It looks like they met in the Sky. :D

trawnajim

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by trawnajim » Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:50 am

Gandalf Greybeard

Alan Kennedy

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Alan Kennedy » Mon Oct 31, 2016 6:37 am

I see an angelic type of figure with a white dove

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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Boomer12k » Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:08 am

Not a ghost... it's GANDOLF...long beard, hat...etc... I see it is not just me... :lol2:

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Milky Waster
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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Milky Waster » Mon Oct 31, 2016 9:30 am

Just call me Angel of the Morning.

Steve K

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Steve K » Mon Oct 31, 2016 9:47 am

I think it's the ghost of Phyllis Diller :P

ErikGunther

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by ErikGunther » Mon Oct 31, 2016 11:23 am

It looks exactly like Lake Michigan... haunted of course by the spirits of the 300 victims of the wreck of the Lady Elgin... but still like Lake Michigan.

Guest

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Guest » Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:14 pm

Königin der Nacht from Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte.

Thewildwoman

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Thewildwoman » Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:23 pm

Definitely an angel watching over us.

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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Keyman » Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:47 pm

Carole Channing in Hello Dolly
Image

heehaw

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by heehaw » Mon Oct 31, 2016 1:15 pm

Looks to me like a dove flying above the risen Christ. Of course people see things in tea leaves, too.

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neufer
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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by neufer » Mon Oct 31, 2016 1:51 pm

Steve K wrote:
I think it's the ghost of Phyllis Diller :P
If you look hard you can just make out 'Fang' lurking in the woods.
Art Neuendorffer

dagemini

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by dagemini » Mon Oct 31, 2016 3:27 pm

Super Eagle hauling away one big rabbit.

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Joe Stieber
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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Joe Stieber » Mon Oct 31, 2016 4:34 pm

I haven't seen any comments regarding the background star field yet, but a couple of reference points to get started are revealed in the spoiler.
Arcturus is the bright star to the left of the "ghost" and the stick figure of Leo is about at the same height, with the Sickle near the right edge of the frame (the last star of the Sickle's curve is cut off by the edge). In between, faintly visible in the ghost, is the Coma Star Cluster (Melotte 111).

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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by ta152h0 » Mon Oct 31, 2016 9:07 pm

The great Poobah)s that run the sky have great timing. ( and the little poobahs that live under that sky have great imaginations }
Wolf Kotenberg

justpassingthru

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by justpassingthru » Tue Nov 01, 2016 12:03 am

I picture three apparitions
a great bird and in front of that stands a man the guardian
he overwatches and protects the sorceress who sits before with long flowing hair
in her arms she holds their child


a family portrait

Baz

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Baz » Tue Nov 01, 2016 12:05 am

Agree with trawnajim definitely Gandolf the Grey

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10-31-2016 APOD

Post by MTSkull2 » Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:10 am

10-31-2016
The APOD I saw today, about an aurora, they said to name the "apparition". One called it "witches" and another called it "goddess of dawn". While I like those too, I've always thought of it as "angel of the lights" and have seen it several times when we have had a full sky aurora. I saw mention of an eagle above the head, a second look at the photo and I could see a bird there. The bird doesn't look so much like an eagle because of the long tail. The picture looks more like a Bird of Paradise to me (IMHO). Next time, I will look up and see the "angel of the lights" with a "bird of paradise" flying overhead. Beautiful picture, nice thoughts. What more could you ask of nature's beauty? Keep looking up, friends! :D

w-t

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by w-t » Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:33 pm

How is it possible that no-one else could see that it's Yosemite Sam? It could not be more obvious.

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Chris Peterson
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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Chris Peterson » Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:56 pm

w-t wrote:How is it possible that no-one else could see that it's Yosemite Sam? It could not be more obvious.
I'd go with Asterix.
Chris

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Doug F.

Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Doug F. » Fri Nov 04, 2016 3:17 pm

At first, I first saw an eagle flying over the head of Moses.
But now, all I can see is Carol Channing -- thanks, APOD.

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Re: APOD: Ghost Aurora over Canada (2016 Oct 31)

Post by Sisarenee » Fri Nov 04, 2016 5:12 pm

Phoenix rising amidst the flame smoke and ashes. Or Gandalf :D