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Last Aurora Hunt of the Season?

A couple of nights ago the northern lights were suposed to be out in force, so I went north from Anchorage in search of my prey – Aurora Borealis.web-4-26-13-Aurora (2 of 21)

After driving over an hour north, pulling off into dark corners along the Glenn Highway.  I thought, again the prediction maps were just a tease. So since I was already out wandering around in the darkness, I decided to find a spot and take some star trail photos. I stopped at Thunderbird Falls in the Chugach. The wind was occasionally biting, but it stayed in the high 30’s so I knew I’d be comfortable for the length of time these photos would take.

There was a very slight green haze along the horizon, so I still had some hope that my quarry might make herself seen. It was a half mile hike to a viewing area in the valley, and the waterfall. While the moonlight  was strong, it wasn’t able to illuminate the falls, but I could hear and slightly make out the stream below the cliff side I was walking.

After taking a couple of shots of the stars, nothing all that stunning, I got to a place where I could clearly see a mountainside off in the distance. My plan was to take a couple of shots  of the stars over the mountains and then call it quits.

Then suddenly – out of a corner of one of my shots – I saw it.

The elusive aurora.

Over the next hour it would go from highly visible in small spots to only visible through the camera’s long exposure. But since I missed the epic show in January… this was good enough for me.

web-4-26-13-Aurora (7 of 21)

web-4-26-13-Aurora (5 of 21)

web-4-26-13-Aurora (8 of 21)

web-4-26-13-Aurora (9 of 21)

web-4-26-13-Aurora (13 of 21)

web-4-26-13-Aurora (17 of 21)

web-4-26-13-Aurora (10 of 21)

 

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Comments
4 Responses to “Last Aurora Hunt of the Season?”
  1. laurainnocal says:

    My, my. Just gorgeous. Thank you Jeanne!

  2. AKblue says:

    Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing.

  3. slipstream says:

    I don’t get it. If you do manage to shoot an aurora, what do you do with the pelt?

    Are they good to eat?

    Why do you hunt them at night?

    Must be something I’m missing here . . .

  4. juneaudream says:

    Lovely indeed..and also..hope you were trailing..wispy toilette water-of-diesel, scent, and singing loudly..to self..and critters..in the dark hollow of beauty-unfolding. 🙂