Vernal Equinox 2013: Lunar Halo, Moon Dog and Aurora on March 20 2013

The 22° Moon halo with slowly increasing auroral activity was captured at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska early on March 20, 2013. Lunar halos as well as Moon dogs are caused by atmospheric optics - a refraction in high altitude ice crystals of cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Moon dogs are relatively rare round spots on a lunar halo appearing 22° to either side of the Moon and are much rarer than Sun dogs. The Moon must usually be very bright (during or near Full Moon) in order to produce Moon dogs, so I was very surprised by the appearance of one specimen (7 days before Full Moon) just as I was leaving the Wiseman village around 03:45 AM with the plan on heading South. Needless to say that my departure from the Brooks Range was postponed as I was going to capture a Moon Halo with Moon dog and developing auroral display during the morning twilight hours. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1.

Moon dogs as well as the red color spectrum of the aurora usually show very little color to the unaided eye since the light is not bright enough to activate the cone cells of humans' eyes.

Images are captured with Nikon D800 w/14mm f/2.8 AF ED and Canon EOS 5D MK2 w/EF 24mm f/1.4L II

Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:51 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:49 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:50 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:52 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:53 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:54 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:55 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:55 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:56 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Moon Dog and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 03:57 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:11 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:19 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:20 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo with Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:25 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:26 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Equinox Aurorae with Moon Halo in Alaska
A Moon Halo and Aurora captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:28 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Nikon D800 and Nikkor 14mm f/2.8 AF ED lens - Photo Dimensions: 7360 x 4912 pixel = 36.15 MP
aurora borealis aurora moon halo northern lights alaska march 2013 moon dog lunar halo wiseman alaska moon atmospheric optics vernal equinox spring equinox aurora borealis alaska halo northern lights alaska brooks range moon dogs alaska aurora equinox aurorae auroras wiseman
Vernal Equinox: Faint Lunar Halo and Aurora captured at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:39 AM on March 20. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
moon dog lunar halo aurorae aurora borealis equinox wiseman alaska march 2013 brooks range aurora northern lights auroras atmospheric optics vernal equinox alaska aurora aurora borealis alaska halo moon moon dogs moon halo northern lights alaska spring equinox wiseman alaska
Vernal Equinox: Faint Lunar Halo and Aurora captured at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 04:53 AM on March 20. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
moon dog lunar halo aurorae aurora borealis equinox wiseman alaska march 2013 brooks range aurora northern lights auroras atmospheric optics vernal equinox alaska aurora aurora borealis alaska halo moon moon dogs moon halo northern lights alaska spring equinox wiseman alaska
Vernal Equinox: Northern Lights at dawn - captured at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 05:37 AM on March 20. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
aurorae aurora borealis equinox wiseman alaska march 2013 brooks range aurora northern lights auroras vernal equinox alaska aurora aurora borealis alaska northern lights alaska spring equinox wiseman alaska
Auroral display captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 05:54 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
aurorae aurora borealis equinox wiseman alaska march 2013 brooks range aurora northern lights auroras vernal equinox alaska aurora aurora borealis alaska northern lights alaska spring equinox wiseman alaska
Auroral display captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 05:56 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
aurorae aurora borealis equinox wiseman alaska march 2013 brooks range aurora northern lights auroras vernal equinox alaska aurora aurora borealis alaska northern lights alaska spring equinox wiseman alaska
Auroral display captured on Vernal Equinox at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 05:56 AM on March 20, 2013. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
aurorae aurora borealis equinox wiseman alaska march 2013 brooks range aurora northern lights auroras vernal equinox alaska aurora aurora borealis alaska northern lights alaska spring equinox wiseman alaska
Vernal Equinox: Faint aurora and stars of constellation Cassiopeia at dawn - captured at Koyukuk river in Wiseman, Alaska at 06:16 AM on March 20. The Wiseman Village is located within Alaska's Brooks Range at latitude 67.4 and longitude -150.1

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
aurorae aurora borealis equinox wiseman alaska march 2013 brooks range aurora northern lights auroras vernal equinox alaska aurora aurora borealis alaska northern lights alaska spring equinox wiseman alaska
Vernal Equinox: Sun Halo captured at 11:57 AM on March 20, 2013 near the Arctic Circle in Alaska

Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
sun dog solar halo equinox alaska march 2013 vernal equinox spring equinox wiseman wiseman alaska sun halo sun

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Vernal Equinox 2013: Lunar Halo, Moon Dog and Aurora on March 20 2013

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