Gandalf the Green* (aurora borealis) *apologies to JRRT (Ian Dixon)

Gandalf the Green* (aurora borealis) *apologies to JRRT

September 26, 2020 - 1:45 am. This was my last light frame of the constantly moving Aurora Borealis last evening. I have been out here going after them this week. The Aurora continue to be very active, reflecting some heightened ejecta from the Sun. The aurora ebb and gain strength contantly, one needs to watch carefully lest you slumber through a nice sequence! They sometimes engulfed the entire Northern hemisphere last night. In some of my "normal" wide field images, the green hue would invade the field of view. 😂

Leaving all science aside, and recalling the many hours spent reading JRR Tolkien, this pattern of aurora strikes me as an image of "Gandalf the Grey", such a prominent figure in those stories. (*Roy Hagen* from this site contributed a nice modification on that theme).

Here he is, peering down at me as if to say, what now, more imaging? 🙂

This was caught by chance as I was out on the lake with my canoe, as the camera snapped off its lights.

Enjoy, thanks for looking.

~I

15 seconds, ISO 800, Ioptron tracker (Skyguider Pro), Rokinon 10mm lens, 60D with modification.

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