Auroras

August 15, 2006 6:57 PM

Auroras have had many explanations throughout history. Now, science has answered many questions, thanks to spending a lot of time in Antarctica taking time-lapse films.
posted by MetaMonkey (14 comments total)

You can even forecast an aurora near you!
posted by MetaMonkey at 7:09 PM on August 15, 2006

Really cool, thank you.
posted by interrobang at 7:53 PM on August 15, 2006

The "A Year on Ice" video is worth it.

How does one get down there on research projects? I want to work with the smartest crazies out there.
posted by peeedro at 8:00 PM on August 15, 2006

MetaMonkey, Wonderful post with informative links. The time lapse movie on YouTube is awesome. Great info about the folklore.

I'm crazy about auroras and was lucky enough to see the aurora borealis for a week in Iceland. Incredibly beautiful. I long to see one or more again.

AuroraDude.com

Listening to the Northern Lights.

Images of auroras from outer space. Aurora links. More nice images of auroras.

Beautiful sky phenomena. Aurora galleries, more and more. Pretty aurora animation.
posted by nickyskye at 9:09 PM on August 15, 2006

The foundation of Aurora research (Borealis in the Arctic, Australis in the Antarctic) was laid over 100 years ago with the publication of Kristian Birkeland's book, The Norwegian Aurora Polaris Expedition 1902-1903. (Be sure to take note of the results of his terrella experiments.)

Just finished reading The Northern Lights: The True Story of the Man Who Unlocked the Secrets of the Aurora Borealis by Lucy Jago: it's a fascinating biography.
posted by cenoxo at 9:15 PM on August 15, 2006

Try this book link instead...
posted by cenoxo at 9:22 PM on August 15, 2006

posted by nickyskye at 9:26 PM on August 15, 2006 [1 favorite]

All those links were awesome, thanks for posting them!
posted by wolftrouble at 9:42 PM on August 15, 2006

Spectacular stuff, nice one!
posted by TwoWordReview at 2:27 AM on August 16, 2006

Loved it, for obvious reasons. Thanks MetaMonkey.
posted by luminous phenomena at 11:16 AM on August 16, 2006

Thanks, that's great to see, especially the time-lapse stuff. I've only seen the Aurora Borealis once but it was unforgettable.
posted by soyjoy at 1:41 PM on August 17, 2006

The aurora videos were great, and serendiptiously well-timed. They'll make excellent reference footage. Thanks for posting!
posted by Durhey at 11:47 AM on August 18, 2006

The large version of the causal solar flare video in the "science" link above is one of the most spectacular videos I have ever seen.
posted by nthdegx at 3:34 AM on August 20, 2006

Checked this link kind of late in the game but Here are more Austral Borealis from Antarctica. This one is especially nice.
posted by culberjo at 10:25 PM on August 21, 2006