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"Chena Aurora 6 (with setting Saturn and Pleiades)"


Chena Hot Springs, Alaska March 19, 2004
Kodak Portra Professional Film
ISO 800 color negative film -- normal development
Pentax Spotmatic camera with 28mm lens at f/3.5 / ~60 second exposure

 

After a night filled with some spectacular Aurora (and a breakfast experience filled with the grating "live" violin sounds of the B&B's owner's daughter), we leisurely drove out to Chena Hot Springs (some 60 miles NE of Fairbanks and on a well-maintained paved road) on Friday, March 19, 2004. Upon arrival and check-in we signed up for the Aurora snow coach ride leaving the resort at 10 P.M. and driving to the remote (and light-pollution free) Charley Dome. Upon arrival that evening at the ridgetop, we were immediately greeted with many amazing Aurora -- the display reached a crescendo sometime after midnight of the minus 20 degree F night. Following some momentary viewing (and almost immediate battery freeze-up of their digital cameras) many of the tourists took up semi-permanent residence in the heated yurt -- I'm proud to state that we were outside (and comfortable in our rented arctic clothing!) throughout almost the entire night (perhaps 5 hours). I have chosen to label these photos as taken on 3/19/04 --and have also chosen to use this nomenclature throughout the presentation -- when in reality many shots were taken at midnight or slightly after. In general we found the Aurora to be most active between 10 P.M. and 2 A. M. local Alaskan time.

(Additional photos from the March 19th Aurora experience can be accessed by using this text link to a supplemental gallery.)

The 2004 Aurora Borealis astrophotography is available via telephone ordering as noted below.

 

Please call 303.903.9886 to place your order.


 


All images and narratives copyright Willis Greiner, all rights reserved.

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