August 2011
 

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  Summary: With summer (and the midnight sun) waning, sky watchers around the Arctic Circle are seeing their first auroras in months. See also July 2011.  
 
  Photographer, Location Images Comments


Nenne Åman,
Arjeplog, Northern Sweden.
Aug. 27, 2011
#1

The sky cleared up at midnight and I went out to have a quick look for northern lights. I was just very lucky as the sky turned green for less than 5 minutes when I reached the lake Hornavan in Arjeplog, Sweden. This was my first aurora this season, so I am very happy at the moment!


Frank Olsen,
Stø, Norway
Aug. 25, 2011
#1, #2, #3, more

These images was taken one hour or so after midnight, local time - GMT +1. This was a new location for me. And I got at strike at my first trip here! It was a short outburst, lasting less than 10 minutes. I arrived to the site some 3 hours before this outburst, and I thought I had no luck seeing the Aurora today. And boy, was I happy I wasn't gone home. Still plenty of remaining light from the sunset at this latitude. There was also a half full moon lighten up the sky. But still I managed to get a few nice shots. Location: Stø, Nordland county, Norway. Equipment: Canon EOS 7D, with Tokina 11-16 mm f/2,8. ISO 250, 3,2 - 5 seconds exposure.

Sean M. Scully,
Akureyri, Iceland
Aug. 24, 2011
#1, #2, #3

Finally! The end of summer and dark skies at night! Sadly, I was confined to my dwelling so I could not escape light pollution. It was mostly cloudy but around 01:15 local time, some of the clouds dissipated revealing active to curtain like auroras overhead and to the north. Bright, fast moving displays lasted for about five to ten minutes. Sadly, flare from nearby street lights is visible. Exposures were made with a Canon 5D and an EF 50 f/1.8 at f/1.8, ~1s and ISO-800 to 3200.


Brandon Lovett,
Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Aug. 25, 2011
#1, #2, #3, more

Started off weak, wasn't too exciting. Then there was an outburst of color and dancing lights. Could see the aurora forming and moving very fast. ISO 1600, f/3.5, 10 Second Exposures. At times, red, purple, and pink was visible along side the green.


Francis Anderson,
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Canada
Aug. 24, 2011
#1, #2, more

After a long, bright summer with the 24/7 daylight, it was great to see my 1st sign ( although a bit dim and weak )of the northern lights here in the Northwest Territories. I am looking forward to shooting the lights further north in a couple of weeks.

Fredrik Broms,
Kvaløya, Norway
Aug. 20, 2011
#1, more

The midnightsun period in the high north is a sore trial for amateur astronomers and after the whole long summer without stars (save one..), the brightest stars can finally be seen, and tonight when I was watching the beautiful "pair" of Jupiter and the Moon, suddenly the first auroras for the season appeared up here in Tromsø! Looking forward to a great season with lots of activity on the Sun! Nikon D3, AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8, 1 sec exposure f 3,2, ISO 500


Bjarki Mikkelsen,
Jokkmokk Porjus. Lapland Sweden.
Aug. 24, 2011
#1, #2, #3

Tonight 24 August 2011, i went out to watch some of the first Aurora after the midnight sun and the summertime. And i got luck, after watching the sky for about 1 hour the northernlights came. It was quite heavy and lightning green clearly. It is still bright here at night, but i think its time now to starting the new season, I think it will be a great year around the polar circle. This is my first Aurora pictures after summer and sun. In Jokkmokk Porjus Lapland, Arctic Sweden. Europe. Camera: Olympus E-420 ISO 400.


James Hudson,
Húsafell, Iceland
Aug. 13, 2011
#1

When I first spotted the clouds I was not sure if they were noctilucent or not, it was only as the light fell that they became more obvious. Even more surprising was the outbreak of aurora, although not as vivid as I have seen them, they made a nice composition with the clouds. I had a compact camera with me and so I set it on a bench for a 15 second exposure.

more images: from Frank Olsen of Sigerfjord, Norway; from John E Cordiale of Edgecomb Pond, Bolton, New York; from B.Art Braafhart of Salla-Sallatunturi, Finnish-Lapland; from Beatrice van Eden of Antarctica, SANAE IV Base; from David Harris of Ontonagon, Michigan; from Göran Strand of Frösön, Sweden;