August 2006
Aurora Gallery

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Summary: On August 19th, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) tipped south, opening a crack in Earth's magnetic defenses. Solar wind poured through, fueling a moderate (K-index=6) geomagnetic storm.

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  Photographer, Location Images Comments

Markku Hirvenoja,
Vojakkala, Loppi, Finland
Aug. 19
#1, #2, #3

When I came from sauna at about 22:40 (daylight saving time) I saw an aurora stripe and took some pics. I went back out at midnight. There was colourful auroras with a red glow from high altitude clouds (sunset?). There was also some red and a hint of blue in the auroras, too. At about 00:40 the clouds destroy the view.

Photo details: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma EX 15 mm, 400 ASA, 8s exposure in 1st picture, 30s in the rest

Tapio Kostet,
Pyhanta, Finland
Aug. 20
#1, #2, #3, more

One of the most beautiful and bright auroras I have ever seen.

Photo details: Nikon D200, 630 ASA, Nikon 18-70mm f 3.5 at 18mm, exposure 6-10 s.

Sebastian Greger,
Helsinki-Vantaa airport, Vantaa, Finland
Aug. 19
#1, #2, #3, more

Even with the northern sky still slightly illuminated by the sun, the first substorm at 1950 UTC (2251 local time) has been visible in all its amazing intensity. Faint auroras remained visible for many hours throughout the night.

Martti Saksala,
Lake Kukkia, Puutikkala, Finland
Aug. 19
#1, #2

Photo details: Canon 300D,Sigma 24/2.8,10s exposure

Juha Ollila,
Oulu, Finland
Aug. 20
#1, #2, more

Photo details: Nikon D200, AF-S Nikkor 17-35 mm

Patricia Cowern,
Porjus, Jokkmokk kommun, northern Sweden
Aug. 20
#1, #2, more

These are the first aurora pictures taken outside my home this season. These were taken at 00.45 am and it is not totaly dark 60 kms above the arctic circle until September but tonights display was so strong I took many pictures.

Photo details: Canon 10D 20mm lens 2.8 6 secs exposure 400 asa

Anne-Mari Forsstrom,
Bjurböle, Porvoo, Finland
Aug. 20
#1, #2

Photo details: Canon Powershot s500

Tuomas Sydanmetsa,
Pyhanta Finland
Aug. 20
#1, #2

Photo details: Canon 30D +sigma 20mm F 1.8

Jorma Koski,
Archipelago of Porvoo, Finland
Aug. 20
#1, more

The first and rare summer aurora borealis in Southern Finland flamed green and blue for three hours.

Photo details: Canon EOS 5D, 24-105mm L F/4 lens set to 24mm and f/6.3, camera settings were 800ISO, 25 second exposure and daylight white balance.

Krzysztof Kordybach,
Helsinki, Finland.
Aug. 19
#1, more

I was late for the first aurora before 11 PM local time (20.00 UTC), but fortunately it reappeared just before the local midnight (though not that strong as earlier).

Photo details: Canon EF lenses, Fuji Superia 400, aperture 3.5-5.6 and 10-20s exposures.

Dan Frissora,
Cascade Township, Rochester, MN
Aug. 19
#1

Very dim aurora, made special by the sunset like glow and the passing of the ISS through th bottom of the 'Big Dipper' at 22:33 locally.

Photo details: Nikon D200, ISO 800, 13 sec, f3.5, 18mm

Grahame Robertson,
Fife, Scotland
Aug. 19
#1, #2

The auroras were barely visible to the naked eye, but a strong colour was evident in the ptctures. A high ISO was uses to capture the range of colour as well as some meteors left over from the Perseids.

Photo details: Canon EOS 20D at ISO 3200 and times upto 30 seconds at f5.6 and 6.3, Sigma 15 30mm lens.

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