Aurora in Norway last week

[Joost Groen]

I’m back from Norway (phenomenal week of cross-country skiing) ans for a first-timer when it comes to Aurora I was treated pretty well. Kudos to everybody (Ulrich in particular) who sent me tips, predictions and other material. I stayed near Ringebu, a town about 50 kms north of Lillehammer. From Ringebu it was 12 kms east, across a hill and we stayed where the road ended. Litterally. Great cross-counry skiing area, and we were being taken care of phenomenally by the crew of the “Skottenseter” cabin. No false lights anywhere to be seen and an unobstructed view into every direction. I have never seen so many stars in my life, it was actually difficult to recognize the star signs!

Sunday March 3rd we arrived and it was bingo right away. At about 9pm a white halo extended over the full sky range from Northwest to Northeast. In the subsequent hours this halo seemd to densen into a white arc, and at about 11pm in the Northeast some details like beams and “curtains” could be seen. It was all white, but it has been pointed out to me already that it probably was green but difficult to recognize as such.

Monday March 4th the arc was there again and clearly greener. I checked every half our from 9pm and 11.30pm, but could see no further details. Woke up at 1.45am and went out again, but no further details could be seen.

Tuesday March 5th we had quiet a lot of snow and wind in the afternoon (7 at the Beaufort scale) but nevertheless it cleared up in the evening and I spent most of the time between 9pm and 11.30pm outside. Very clear green arc and all over it beams (like searchlights) could be seen. The extended until aboiut 30 degrees above the horizon (to my feeling it might have even been 45 degrees but I guess that might have been wishful thinking). At approximately 10.30pm there was a “curtain” of very clear beams (almost yellow) in the North-northwest. Very impressive. That night we also saw a few meteors and a fireball which was visible for some 5 seconds straight (South).

Wednesday March 6th the owner of the cabin directed us outside at about 8.30pm while we were still having dinner. Great green arc again, not as intense as the previous night, but many more beams (up to about 4 simultaneously at different positions). According to the cabin owner it was not extremely spectacular but it was exceptionallly sharp and clear.

The subsequent days it was mostly cloudy and if anything was visble at all it was “only” the green arc. I made sdome pictures, but only with our extremely simple holiday snapper, so I guess nothing will come out of it. If I’m wrong I will of course whack them on the web. Thanks again for all your help and I feel privileged to have seen this great phenomenon!

Cheers all,
Joost
jsg@xs4all.nl

[Wolfgang Dzieran]

Thank you Joost for this detailed report,
it seem to me that almost all european aurora watchers heading north this spring!
Next time try to catch some aurora and bring it south to all of us!

Best Regards

Wolfgangfrom Bad Lippspringe near the rainy Paderborn