Southern-X-Observatory

Southern Lights
	Around midnight 28th Oct 2003 local time, our sun unleashed an X-17 class solar flare. It was the third largest flare ever recorded (at the time). When it hit planet Earth it was responsible for some of the best aurora seen in recent times. This image was taken near dawn thursday 30th oct 2003 local time, at a darkish site close to Adelaide, South Australia. Credit: Kearn Jones - 50mm lens / 800 fuji film	view pic

	We observed three main waves of elevated auroral activity during 8 hours for the night 29th / morning 30th Oct 2003. This image is from the first wave at around 9:30 pm. A small but bright crescent moon was present at this time. Credit: Bazz - using a 1963 model Kodak 35mm camera that was found in the rubbish! 50 mm lens / Fuji 800 film	view pic

	This panoramic view was made using two shots taken very close together timewise, with a 28mm lens, near dawn. It gives you a roughly 140 degree field of view on the horizon. In order to align the constellations perfectly i had to juggle the photos till they resemble one taken by a fish eye lens, hence the odd angles. Credit Kearn Jones - 28mm / lens Fuji 800	view pic

	Same two consecutive shots, this time i have sacrificed constellation accuracy a tiny bit, to give a closer representation of what we saw with the naked eye. The pillars and curtains of the auroral arc are at the correct angles in relation to the horizon in this mosiac. The auroras nearly stretch from west to east! Also please note sunlight from the approaching dawn bleaching the upper rays blue, from the eastern side in the photos. ( Thanks Ian for pointing that out to me! )	view pic

	This shot is also from the last and most impressive wave that hit around 4 am local time. Some of the searchlights we saw reached 70 degrees into the sky, and that was with a hill blocking a fair bit of the best views! Credit: Kearn Jones - 50mm lens / 800 Fuji	view pic

	Another image from the earliest wave. The second wave arrived at about 1 am local time. Credit: Kearn Jones - 50mm lens / Fuji 800 Colourwise, the first two waves were mostly bright white with little splashes of red to the naked eye. The last, longest and best wave was very green to the eye, particularly the pillars.	view pic

	Another pic from the last wave near dawn. Credit: Kearn Jones - 50mm lens / Fuji 800 Please Note: if you are unfamiliar with aurora photographs - Film and digital shots pick up generally more colour than the eye can see, but photos don't capture all the things about an aurora that look good visually either. i.e the movement, sharp definition of beams and curtains, 3Dness, sheer enjoyment of event, shimmering, ect.	view pic