WTOP Area Contributor Greg Redfern used to be amongst the ones at Shenandoah Nationwide Park in Virginia over the weekend who noticed a unprecedented house phenomenon within the sky.
Composite picture of the SAR Arc observed in Shenandoah Nationwide Park on Sunday night time. (WTOP/Greg Redfern)
On Sunday, you might have observed the WTOP tale about the potential of seeing aurora (often referred to as Northern Lighting fixtures) within the D.C. area.
Fortunately, remaining night time I used to be at Shenandoah Nationwide Park’s Skyland to near out my 9th season of “Let’s Communicate About Area.” Greater than 100 visitors heard in regards to the James Webb Area Telescope.
In a while, we went out right into a clearing to search for aurora and Taurid fireballs. We noticed one Taurid — which were given numerous “oh’s” and “wow’s” — and a few visitors had been ready to {photograph} pink and inexperienced colours within the sky with their smartphones. Shall we now not see those colours with our eyes, as they don’t seem to be adept at doing so because of the wavelengths of sunshine concerned.
I used to be ready to make use of my iPhone and Nikon digital camera to {photograph} the sky, because it used to be transparent with out a smoke from the continued hearth. In processing my photographs lately, I spotted that what we had been seeing remaining night time used to be actually now not an aurora, however an area climate phenomenon known as a Strong Aurora Purple (SAR) Arc. I spotted what it used to be after I blended two of my photos right into a composite, which confirmed the lovely arc.
This used to be the primary time I’ve imaged a SAR Arc, even though I’ve imaged the uncommon Sturdy Thermal Emission Pace Enhancement (STEVE) at sea, which the SAR Arc has been observed to transition into.
The uncommon Sturdy Thermal Emission Pace Enhancement (STEVE) photographed at sea. (WTOP/Greg Redfern)
It does now not seem that the D.C. space shall be handled to a an identical night time this night, however we will rely on having extra within the months forward.
We’ll permit you to know when it occurs.
Apply my day-to-day weblog to stay alongside of the most recent information in astronomy and house exploration. You’ll be able to e mail me at skyguyinva@gmail.com.
