The odds of seeing aurora in the north when you look outside tonight, is pretty good. There was a strong X3-class solar flare directed at earth, and its those kinds of CMEs that make for spectacular light shows in our cloud-free skies. Get your tripod and digital camera ready. If you’re new to photographing at night, dress warmly with a touque and skipants if you have them to give you extra minutes in comfort. Then turn your camera to manual mode, turn off the flash, and set the shutter to more than 2 seconds, pointed at the horizon on some kind of sturdy surface or a tripod.
If you take a series of photos every minute, aiming at the same spot, you can animate the results later, like this one of mine from 2004:
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bigcitylib | 14-Dec-06 at 10:46 am | Permalink
Unfortunately, it’s supposed to be raining tonight in TO.
CathiefromCanada | 14-Dec-06 at 11:01 am | Permalink
Great photo.
Thanks for the comment on my blog about moderating Progressive bloggers. No, I just don’t have time to do this, particularly during the week, and I’m not sure how knowledgeable I am anyway. However, you should definitely take this on yourself if you can — you would be excellent at it and you have the respect of progressive bloggers across the country.
Saskboy | 14-Dec-06 at 11:19 am | Permalink
Funny you should mention that Cathie, as just today my concern for gender equity is being scoffed at by some rather significant online-feminists.
I think you should apply anyway, even just a short email without the essay Wayne asks for, and the most work it would be in a week would be only as much as you make it. Pretty much just answer an email a week, or click Accept on a new blog whatever you would find fun.
Saskboy | 14-Dec-06 at 11:24 am | Permalink
BCL too bad about the rain. If I stay up late tonight it’s supposed to clear here.
http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/city/pages/sk-33_metric_e.html
James (ReginaRadio) | 14-Dec-06 at 1:46 pm | Permalink
I don’t mean to brag but I once had an aurora photo featured on the Weather Network. My proudest moment.
Thanks for the tip. My wife and I are big fans of the Northern Lights. I had an outdoor birthday party in September around a firepit and they were spectacular all night long.
JimBobby | 14-Dec-06 at 3:53 pm | Permalink
Whooee! Thankee fer the heads-up, Sasky.
I jest looked at a weather channel satellite pitcher an’ it looks like it might clear up in SW Ontariariario later on.
Good pitcher show you made, too. Yeow!
JB
gary | 14-Dec-06 at 4:23 pm | Permalink
I hope I can spot it way down here in Pennsylvania. I have seen them here on one other occassion. Freaked my out until I figured out what it was!
Saskboy | 14-Dec-06 at 4:54 pm | Permalink
It may be possible Gary, but I don’t know if this storm is strong enough. Good luck.
Ross | 14-Dec-06 at 6:51 pm | Permalink
there are warnings about possible interuptions to communications, and power grids because of this solar flare. apparently there was one in 1989 that left six million people in quebec without power for nine hours.
Saskboy | 14-Dec-06 at 11:05 pm | Permalink
Yep Ross, expect satellite TV to be iffy tonight.
If you’re not outside on a clear night right now, I pity you ;-)
Saskboy | 15-Dec-06 at 2:39 pm | Permalink
James, bragging is ok. I heard Regina was cloudy last night, but Yorkton wasn’t the entire light show, ha ha ;-)
Jim Bobby there will be better ones from last night posted later.