Aurora Time Lapse: Northern Lights at the Arctic Circle on March 16-17, 2013
What caused these magnificent Northern Lights?
Sunspot region 1692 was the source of a significant long duration M1.1 solar flare occurring at 06:58 UTC on March 15, 2013 - associated with a large full halo coronal mass ejection (CME). The solar storm reached the Earth near 10:00 PM Alaskan time on March 16 (06:00 UTC on March 17) and the CME arrival triggered a 12 hour-long geomagnetic storm producing colorful Northern Lights visible as far South as the Northern tier of the United States.
Note the barely visible but brightening comet Pan-STARRS as the sky darkens in part 1 of the time lapse movie. The comet is setting on the horizon as the show was about to begin. The all-night time lapse video - once assembled - required a total of 7,628 images captured during a 10 hour session between 09:30 PM on March 16 and 7:30 AM on the following day (05:30-15:30 UTC on March 17), a staggering amount of 226.06 GB of raw footage - all equal to 8 minutes of final time lapse generated and to be assembled for the scheduled raw footage presentation at dawn (at the end of clip 4) before heading North to the Brooks Range.
The still photos of the Arctic Circle Aurora can be seen here: http://auroraphoto.smugmug.com/AuroraPhotography/Arctic-Circle-Auroras
Camera: Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens
Aurora Time Lapse Clip: Northern Lights of March 16-17, 2013 - I
The colorful Northern Lights of March 16-17, 2013 at the Arctic Circle in Alaska. This is part 1 of the 4-part time lapse video. Note the ever brightening comet Pan-STARRS setting on the horizon in this 1:08 minute clip.
Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L IIarctic circlealaskaauroraaurora borealisgeomagnetic stormcoronaalaskan northern lightsmarch 17march 2013multicolored aurorascoronasred northern lightsred auroraoverhead auroradalton hwynorthern lights
Aurora Time Lapse Clip: Northern Lights of March 16-17, 2013 - II
Colorful Northern Lights on March 16-17, 2013 at the Arctic Circle in Alaska. This is part 2 of the 4-part time lapse video. Many coronas (overhead auroral displays) occurred throughout the night. Length: 1:06 minutes
Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L IIarctic circlealaskaauroraaurora borealisgeomagnetic stormcoronaalaskan northern lightsmarch 17march 2013multicolored aurorascoronasred northern lightsred auroraoverhead auroradalton hwynorthern lights
Aurora Time Lapse Clip: Northern Lights of March 16-17, 2013 - III
The colorful Northern Lights of March 16-17, 2013 at the Arctic Circle in Alaska. This is part III of the 4-part time lapse movie. Length: 1:03 minutes
Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L IIarctic circlealaskaauroraaurora borealisgeomagnetic stormcoronaalaskan northern lightsmarch 17march 2013multicolored aurorascoronasred northern lightsred auroraoverhead auroradalton hwynorthern lights
Aurora Time Lapse Clip: Northern Lights of March 16-17, 2013 - IV
The colorful Northern Lights of March 16-17, 2013 at the Arctic Circle in Alaska. This is part IV of the 4-part time lapse video. Length: 1:21 minutes
Canon 5D MKII with EF 24mm f/1.4L IIarctic circlealaskaauroraaurora borealisgeomagnetic stormcoronaalaskan northern lightsmarch 17march 2013multicolored aurorascoronasred northern lightsred auroraoverhead auroradalton hwynorthern lights
Aurora Time Lapse Clip: Corona
Bonus clip: A very rare multi-colored corona (auroral display overhead) in motion - captured early on March 17, 2013.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II with EF 24mm f/1.4L IIarctic circlealaskaauroraaurora borealisgeomagnetic stormcoronaalaskan northern lightsmarch 17march 2013multicolored aurorascoronasred northern lightsred auroraoverhead auroradalton hwynorthern lights