Aurora Photos - September 26, 2011

Aurora Borealis - Acadia National Park, Maine

An alert was sent out from Spaceweather Aurora Detection Network on September 26, 2011. Supposedly the Kp Index hit 8 and we were in the middle of a geomagnetic storm. 

"GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm is in progress following the impact of a coronal mass ejection (CME) at approximately 12:15 UT (Universal Time) on September 26th. The Goddard Space Weather Lab reports a "strong compression of Earth's magnetosphere. Simulations indicate that solar wind plasma [has penetrated] close to geosynchronous orbit starting at 13:00 UT." Geosynchronous satellites could therefore be directly exposed to solar wind plasma and magnetic fields. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for Northern and Southern Lights after nightfall."

The Aurora was visible from the Acadia National Park, Schoodic Point, Maine, shortly before 9:00pm EST. Stargazing events were going on at the same time, the Acadia Night Sky Festival and The Sky Rangers Interpretive Workshop, from a dark-sky park. It was great being in the right place at the right time with my camera to capture the event. My first Aurora!

8:55pm EST

8:56pm EST

8:57pm EST

8:57pm EST

9:00pm EST

9:12pm EST

9:13pm EST

9:14pm EST

9:14pm EST

9:15pm EST

9:25pm EST

9:29pm EST

Another photographer, Robert Sparks, from NOAO (The National Optics Astronomy Observatory), one of our instructors and telescope coaches, was also there and his photos can be found on Flickr. He used a Fish-eye lens which caught a wider field of view.