January 2005
Aurora Gallery
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Summary: On January 7th, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) near Earth tipped south, sparking a brief but strong geomagnetic storm. Ten days of quiet followed. Then giant sunspot 720 appeared and started unleashing X-class solar flares. Strong-to-extreme geomagnetic storms ensued on Jan. 17th - 21st as a result of CME-hits to Earth's magnetic field. [See also the November 2004 aurora gallery.]

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Unless otherwise stated, all images are copyrighted by the photographers.


  Photographer, Location Images Comments

Ole Jørgen Liodden,
Valdres, Norway
Jan. 21
#1, #2, more

Nice auroras photographed in Norway. Photo details: Canon EOS 1DS Mark II, 17-40/4.0L, 400 ISO, 15 sec, f4

USAF Defense Meteorological Satellite,
the view of Europe from Earth orbit
Jan. 21
#1

Contributed by Mark Conner of the US Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. A nighttime visible image depicting the aurora's extent Friday evening in northwestern Europe. Image credit: Meteorological Satellite Applications Branch, Air Force Weather Agency.

Brian Smith,
Ullinish, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Jan. 21
#1, #2, #3

The colours were clearly visible to the eye, particularly the last two. The last shot, directly overhead with the moon in the view, was taken as a spectacular display had almost faded. I couldn't get the camera set up fast enough. All shots Fuji S2, Nikkor 12-24DX, f4, 400asa, 15s.

Peter Urwin,
Edinburgh, Scotland
Jan. 21
#1, #2

This beautiful aurora is pictured in the skies above my local rugby club in the north of Edinburgh, and from historic Cramond, on the shores of the Firth of Forth. Photo details: Nikon D70, 400asa, 8-15s exposure.

Mark Stronge,
Ballycopeland Windmill, County Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Jan. 21
#1, #2, #3, more

I have never seen such an amazing display of green lights in my life! The streamers and green curtains were soooo dynamic coming down from the auroral arc to the horizon and glowing brightly - really bright! There was a deep red glow near the horizon which came up and over the auroral arc with a green curtain of vertical spikes topped off with a deep red glow. The sight was fantastic. With the naked eye, I could see the colours very vivid !!! I was jumping up and down with excitement and the cops came along to enjoy the view too !!! Photo details: Canon 300D Digital Rebel SLR, 18mm lens at f3.5. ISO400 with average exposure of 10 seconds.

Jim Henderson,
northeastern Scotland, 25miles west of Aberdeen
Jan. 21
#1, #2, #3

Strong Aurora display of red and green, reaching half Corona with some interference from filling moon. Photos taken on Fuji S2, 1600ISO at 8-10secs, with Sigma 14mm f2.8.

Trygve Lindersen,
Kristiansand, Norway, at N58 E08.
Jan. 21
#1, #2

The pictures are from Kristiansand, Norway, the most southern part of our country. The display took about a half time, between 19.00-19.30 UTC. It is not frequent with such a strong aurora in this part of the country. Photo details: Canon G2, 100 Iso, 6 sec. Max Wide (about 35mm).

Frank Koops,
Appingedam, the Netherlands
Jan. 21
#1

I aw there was a chance to see some auroras so I took my Nikon D100 with a 20 mm lens to a dark place and was just in time to make this picture. Clouds where covering the sky. I hope the sky will clear to get a second chance tonight.

Dan Young,
Anstruther, Fife, Scotland, UK
Jan. 21
#1

I'd given up hope of seeing any auroras from the recent spate of solar blasts so I couldn't believe it when I saw this one, the moon was very bright but the aurora was still easy to see. Great! Nikon Coolpix 5400, 400 ASA, 8 and 4 seconds


more images: from Bruce Cowan of Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.: #1; from Dave Gilmour of Stornoway, Western Isles, Scotland: #1; from Douglas Cooper in central Scotland, UK: #1, #2; from Andrew Dawson of Liverpool, England: #1; from Grahame Robertson of Perthshire, Scotland: #1; from Graeme Brown of West Lothian, Scotland: #1;

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