March 29th - April 3rd, 2002 Aurora Gallery
back to spaceweather.com

Summary: On March 29, 2002, Earth entered a gusty, high-speed solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole on the Sun. High-latitude sky watchers saw internittant auroras for days, and some photographers were able to capture Comet Ikeya-Zhang with Northern Lights in the foreground. The coronal hole itself was remarkable because it had persisted for at least four consecutive 27-day solar rotations.

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

  Photographer, Location Images Comments

Yuichi Takasaka, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
April 1
#1, #2, #3 Y. Takasaka: "Comet Ikeya-Zhang (see image #3) does not go below horizon up here, so we have more chances to photograph it." Photo details: Pentax KX; Fuji Provia 400F, 60s exposures.

Robert Siciliano, near Palmer, Alaska, USA
March 31 - April 1
#1, #2, #3, , #4, #5, more R. Siciliano: "The display was short-lived but intense. In photo #5 Comet Ikeya-Zhang can be seen ."

Calvin Hall, Mt. McKinley, Alaska, USA
Mar. 29
#1, more C. Hall: "We have had beautiful clear weather in Alaska lately so I spent some time chasing auroras and the comet.The almost-full moon is what is giving Mt. Mckinley such great light."

Marc Constantino, Eagle River, Alaska, USA
April 1
#1, #2 Comet Ikeya-Zhang appears in one of these photos. Can you find it? Photo details: Canon EOS 55, Phoenix 28-105 f2.8 lens, and Fuji Reala iso 100 film.

Glen Jewers, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
April 1
#1, #2, #3 G. Jewers: "It was really windy tonight with about 70kmh winds and blowing snow. Temperature around -35 Burrrrr!" Photo details: Canon Rebel G, 35
mm lens, Kodak Gold 400 film , 35 to 40 sec exposure.

Calvin Hall, near Palmer, Alaska, USA
Mar. 31
#1, more Comet Ikeya-Zhang appears in this photo, too.

Mark Hoffmeyer, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
March 31
#1, #2, #3 M. Hoffmeyer: "Easter Sunday closed out beautifully -- about 10:30 pm local time this green auroral band exploded with brightness and movement. Comet Ikeya-Zhang enhances the beauty of the moonless sky. I caught these using a Minolta X700, 50mm F1.7 lens on Fuji 400 film."

See also our Mar. 25, 2002, aurora gallery!

back to spaceweather.com