Northern Lights

mickysf
mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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edited December 2015 in Wildlife, Nature & the Great Outdoors #1

Just had an alert from Aurora Watch! Possible sighting in the North of England! We have clear open skies here at the moment so keeping an eye out! 

http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

Comments

  • JohnDH
    JohnDH Forum Participant Posts: 183
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    edited January 2016 #2

    Look north! One of the most amazing displays I've seen. The lights shimmering and dancing. Pics to come soon.

  • JohnDH
    JohnDH Forum Participant Posts: 183
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    edited January 2016 #3

    Here are some pics of the lights
    <<Here>>

  • BillandMargaret
    BillandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited January 2016 #4

    Living in Northumberland, there are some beautiful photos on various F/book sites in this area. Beautiful colours, at some glorious venues.

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited January 2016 #5

    Here are some pics of the lights
    <<Here>>

    Lovely pictures, thank you for sharing.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #6

    Thanks for sharing your pictures. I looked out several times but just a very faint glow which might have been just town lights! Frown

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #7

    Missed the alerts and your thread Frown  Thanks for sharing your lovely photos.  Did you use a slow shutter speed???  I'm no photographer and
    have one of those intellegent point and shoot jobs; I found the night setting requires a tripod as it takes sooo long to take and have generally found acceptable results without using it.  Please don't get technical if you explain things
    SurprisedEmbarassed

  • JohnDH
    JohnDH Forum Participant Posts: 183
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    edited January 2016 #8

     Bakers2, A good starting point is 20 sec exposure, apature wide open, iso 800. Turn off auto focus and set manually to infinity. colour balance 5400K or bright day. Turn off any shake reduction features. And yes, it does need a sturdy tripod. Everything else is tweaking, fiddling and getting cold. Hoping not to be too technical. But just ask if you need too.

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
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    edited January 2016 #9

    Here are some pics of the lights
    <<Here>>

    Thank you once again John, I really look forward to your photo gallary. More please!!!....Cool

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #10

    Thanks JohnHD, yes I think I understand that.  I'll try with a clear night sky when we next get one
    Undecided. 

    I got super shots of an eclipse of the moon when we were last in NZ, a couple of years ago, using normal settings.  I had to buy new camera day before we set off to welcome our first grandchild over there, as previous one refused to work and really haven't
    done much other than point and shoot.  I do now, after yearsssssssss of snaps remember to take table shots before all the plates are empty and I have lost my trademark of a cup or glass in the photo regardless of the subject
    Wink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #11

    Here are some cracking photos taken just a few days ago on the 20th December just up the coast from us. Apparently Whitby is a good place to see them when they show as when looking out to sea it faces almost due North.

    http://www.whitby-photography.com/product-category/the-northern-lights-at-whitby/

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #12

    Lovely photos mickysf thanks for the link share.  Also fantastic tip about Whitby too.

  • Cherokee2015
    Cherokee2015 Forum Participant Posts: 392
    edited January 2016 #13

    Didn't see them here in Edinburgh but think too much lighting for a good view.  However we're off on a cruise around northern Norway in February with the specific intention of seeing the aurora borealis.   A present to ourselves for our silver wedding. 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #14

    Happy wedding anniversary when it comes Moonstone, I hope you're lucky and see the lights.  Wanted to do the Northern Lights ourselves for our silver wedding anniversary 11 years ago but for health reason OH can't go where it's cold so we weren't able to. 
    I have caught glimpses of them down here in Essex and one of these years we are going to be able to get away up to northern Scotland when the opportunity arises
    Laughing

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited January 2016 #15

    Thanks for sharing, wish i had seen the heads up.

    Another great tip re Whitby, it is only 20 miles from me and north will be out to sea. Trouble for me is, I get the light polution of Scarborough to my north, from home.

    Only ever seen the the lights through glass...  But it was from the flight deck of a Boeing 767 over northern Canada. Long story.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #16

    Just had an aurora alert, it's building nicely so if you have clear skies it might be worth a peep!

  • Cherokee2015
    Cherokee2015 Forum Participant Posts: 392
    edited January 2016 #17

    Just had an aurora alert, it's building nicely so if you have clear skies it might be worth a peep!

    I got that too - no chance here though as too much light pollution Frown

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,300 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #18

    Thanks for the link to the Whitby photos, no chance of seeing aurora, like moonstone too much light pollution in our neck of the woods

  • Cherokee2015
    Cherokee2015 Forum Participant Posts: 392
    edited February 2016 #19

    Two days till we sail to Norway - can't wait.   The chances of seeing the Northern Lights seem to be reasonably ok - keep your fingers crossed!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #20

    Wrap up well and have a good time, let us know what the trip was like! Smile

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited February 2016 #21

    Two days till we sail to Norway - can't wait.   The chances of seeing the Northern Lights seem to be reasonably ok - keep your fingers crossed!

    Have a great time, Smile Hope you see the lights. 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #22

    Have a great trip hope you get to see them if not Aberdeen is a good place to see themHappy

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #23

    Looks like some in the north of the UK might get a good view of the Northern Lights tonight. Smile

  • Cherokee2015
    Cherokee2015 Forum Participant Posts: 392
    edited March 2016 #24

    Hi all

    Back from our trip and it was fantastic.   Saw the Northern Lights 2-3 times, twice they were faint, but one was a fantastic show with greens and reds and lots of dancing colours.    The cruise was great too, and we loved Norway and would love to go back
    again at some point.     Took some pics but they aren't that great but not sure how to put them on here - sorry 

     

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #25

    Sounds like a really good trip, hope to do it one day, it's been on my list for too long! How far north did you get?

  • Cherokee2015
    Cherokee2015 Forum Participant Posts: 392
    edited March 2016 #26

    We went right up to the North Cape/Honnisvag - minus 6 with a windchill of minus10 but not that bad.   The weather was great, only one poor day.  The views and scenery were spectacular.  Highlights were Husky Dog Sledding, the Ice Hotel and the North Cape
    (not to mention the Northern Lights!)

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited March 2016 #27

    When I was up at North Cape, the vis was down to about 30 metres which was a bit disappointing. We went another 600 miles after that to Svalbard where the weather was, fortunately, clear. There's something quite mesmerising about the topography once you
    get as beyond the Lofoten's.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #28

    Possible sightings tonight in northern England! lets hope it continues to build!

    http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #29

    Oh dear, it's dropped off!Frown

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