With the cyclical increase the Sun's activity there is a lot more discussion about the Aurora displays. Seeing one of these displays is most definitely on my "things before I die" list.

 

Have any of the real life pilots here been privileged to witness this display?.................. one more benefit to being commercial pilot.

I've seen it many times, it's a really breath taking, jaw dropping experience, very easy to just sit there and reflect upon how small we are while staring at it. Something I'd definitely recommend people do before they die.

 

Anthony, AFAIK they get it quite often up in Donegal during some winters, I know last year there was loads of shots of it all over RTE nees, not sure if there's a schedule per say, but may be a nice idea for a weekend away some time if you want to see it...

 

Regards,

Ró.

I have seen it from the ground in both Canada and New Zealand. I can't tell the difference between the Northern or the Southern lights, both are spectacular.

Its definitely something I want to see before my timer runs out. I wonder if this phenomenon looks any better on the ground or at FL400.

Anthony, AFAIK they get it quite often up in Donegal during some winters

 

I'll probably keep an eye out for a settled, clear spell of weather ( haha) and keep that in mind. Maybe I'll convince my PPL buddy to fly up for a weekend.

 

I'm looking at the specialist "Northern Lights Cruises" on the internet, most companies prefer not to publish their price-list ( chi-ching)

 

I've seen it many times, it's a really breath taking, jaw dropping experience, very easy to just sit there and reflect upon how small we are while staring at it. Something I'd definitely recommend people do before they die.

 

Agreed, Astronomy as a subject is fascinating. I did an O.U course in Astronomy some years back and it really put things (us) in perspective.

 

Its definitely something I want to see before my timer runs out. I wonder if this phenomenon looks any better on the ground or at FL400.

 

 

FL400 I reckon

A couple of weeks ago the Aurora borealis was visible as far south as Galway. At 2:00 A.M. I was out in connemara looking for it I guess its not the same as being in Norway or Canada but still spectacular. Here's a great website http://www.softservenews.com/Aurora.htm

A couple of weeks ago the Aurora borealis was visible as far south as Galway. At 2:00 A.M. I was out in connemara looking for it I guess its not the same as being in Norway or Canada but still spectacular. Here's a great website http://www.softserve....com/Aurora.htm

Indeed I saw it a fair few years back from where I'm from in north Connemara, wasn't quite as striking or as vivid as on other occasions, but still fairly impressive to see colours like that in the sky. Much less frequent there though.

 

Regards,

Ró.

With the cyclical increase the Sun's activity there is a lot more discussion about the Aurora displays. Seeing one of these displays is most definitely on my "things before I die" list.

 

Have any of the real life pilots here been privileged to witness this display?.................. one more benefit to being commercial pilot.

 

I've seen the Aurora Borealis as a passenger, but even more special was an occasion when it dropped far enough south to be seen in the San Francisco Bay Area where I used to live. I remember staring at it for some time--it was captivating to watch--not as bright as a display further North, and also the color was a deep reddish hue. I wish I could recall how long ago that was, at least two decades ago (I've been living in Arizona the past seventeen years).

 

John

I'm lucky in this respect living in "northern" (500km north/west of Edmonton) Canada. I haven't seen them as much in recent years but 5 or 6 years ago I'd see them a couple of times a winter. Sometimes they're in the middle of the night and sometimes they're there at 10ish, the timing seems random.

 

They sure are beautiful and amazing though.

 

Lee