Aurora over Churchill Rocket Range (March 6, 2022)

A dim aurora over the Churchill Rocket Range, on March 6, 2022, taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Manitoba. An area of little aurora appears at top creating a band of dark sky framing a heart-shaped area of aurora near the zenith. The Beehive Cluster is right of upper centre; Leo is at left. This is a single 15-second exposure with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 3200.

Aurora Watchers at CNSC (March 6, 2022)

A group from the March 2022 Road Scholar tour enjoys the aurora on March 6, 2022 from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Manitoba. This is looking north from the Observing Deck. This is a single 5-second exposure with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 6400.

All-Sky Aurora (March 4, 2022)

A 360° fish-eye view of a sky-filling aurora on March 4, 2022 taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba. This is looking north but with the lens taking in most of the sky including the zenith at top where the curtains are converging and swirling, and near the Big Dipper. Note the subtle nitrogen pink fringe along the lower curtain. This is a 14-second exposure with the TTArtisan 7.5mm lens at f/2 and Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 800. It is one frame from a 635-frame time-lapse sequence taken over 3 hours this night.

Auroral Oval Panorama from CNSC (Mar 1, 2022)

A 180° panorama of the classic arc of the auroral oval across the northern sky, shot at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, March 1, 2022. From this longitude the auroral oval is usually centred due north, as it is here. Guests from the Learning Vacations aurora group are outside taking in the display, which was fairly weak this night, with this arc being almost the best it appeared. It shows the classic colours, with the main oxygen green topped by weaker oxygen reds. The arc turns more yellow toward the horizon due to atmospheric absorption. Polaris is just left of centre at top, and marks due north. Capella is at top left; Vega is a right of centre above the trees; Arcturus is at far right. The Milky Way runs across the sky at left in the west. Wind chills were about -40° this night. This is a 3-section panorama with the TTArtisan 11mm fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 30 seconds each with the Canon R6 at ISO 1600. Stitched with PTGui.

Aurora Watchers at CNSC (Feb 28, 2022)

A group of aurora fans are watching and shooting the Northern Lights at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Churchill, Manitoba on February 28, 2022. This is looking northwest during a low-level Kp2 display. This is a single 8-second exposure with the TTArtisan 11mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon R6 at ISO 1600.

Northern Auroral Oval from Churchill (Feb 28, 2022)

The arc of the auroral oval across the north, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba, February 28, 2022. This is looking north during a low-level Kp2 display. The Big Dipper is at top, with Polaris below at centre. This is a single 13-second exposure with the TTArtisan 11mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon R6 at ISO 1600.

Possible STEVE Arc from Churchill (Feb 27, 2022)

An arc of normal green aurora across the north, but with a fainter but redder arc to the south at right at the start of a display this night. This arc looks somewhat like a STEVE arc but appeared before the aurora got brighter. Taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba, on February 28, 2022. This is looking northeast during a low-level Kp2 display. This is a single 20-second exposure with the TTArtisan 11mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon R6 at ISO 3200.

Northern Auroral Oval with Possible STEVE Arc (Feb 27, 2022)

An arc of normal green aurora across the north, but with a fainter but redder arc to the south above it at the start of a display this night. Another very dim but mostly red arc lies far to the north. The red arc at top looks somewhat like a STEVE arc but appeared before the aurora got brighter. Taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba, on February 28, 2022. This is looking north during a low-level Kp2 display. This is a single 20-second exposure with the TTArtisan 11mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon R6 at ISO 3200.

Aurora Watchers at CNSC (Feb 27, 2022)

A group of aurora fans are watching and shooting the Northern Lights at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Churchill, Manitoba on February 27, 2022. On this night the most active part of the display was to the west, best seen from out in the parking lot. The stars of Taurus are at left. This is a single 15-second exposure with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 1600.

Aurora Over Rocket Range (Feb 26, 2022)

What started out the night as a dim aurora brightened later and here appears over the abandoned Churchill Rocket Range, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp2 level (very low) at best. This is a single frame with the TTArtisan 11mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 10 seconds with the Canon Ra at ISO 2500.

Aurora Over CNSC with Observer (Feb 26, 2022)

What started out the night as a dim aurora brightened later and here appears over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp2 level (very low) at best. This is a single frame with the TTArtisan 11mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 10 seconds with the Canon Ra at ISO 1250.

Aurora Over CNSC (Feb 26, 2022)

What started out the night as a dim aurora brightened later and here appears over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp2 level (very low) at best. Arcturus is at right. This is a single frame with the TTArtisan 11mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 10 seconds with the Canon Ra at ISO 1250.

Aurora Watchers at CNSC (Feb 26, 2022)

A dim aurora over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp2 level (very low) at best. A group with the first Learning Vacations program for auroras since March 2022 is enjoying the show. Orion is setting at left. This is a single frame with the TTArtisan 11mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 10 seconds with the Canon Ra at ISO 1250.

Red Aurora Panorama (Feb 26, 2022)

A 300° panorama of an aurora from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp1 level (very low) and appeared only as featureless grey arcs to the eye. But the camera picked up unusual red colouration, and even some yellow-oranges, along with the more normal greens. The reds are odd for such a low-level aurora as the oxygen reds typically appear only when the aurora gets very active and energetic. The display did brighten more later this night when it took on the more classic green arcs, with occasional lower fringes of nitrogen pinks. But at the start of the night the reds dominated. Orion is at far left (southwest) while Leo is at far right (east). The winter Milky Way arches over the Studies Centre. This is a panorama of 6 segments with the TTArtisan 11mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 30 seconds each with the Canon Ra at ISO 3200. Stitched with PTGui.

Dim Red & Green Auroral Arcs (Feb 26, 2022)

A dim aurora from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp1 level (very low) and appeared only as featureless grey arcs to the eye. But the camera picked up unusual red colouration, and even some yellow-oranges, along with the more normal greens. The reds are odd for such a low-level aurora as the oxygen reds typically appear only when the aurora gets very active and energetic. The display did brighten later this night when it took on the more classic green arcs, with occasional lower fringes of nitrogen pinks. But at the start of the night the reds dominated. The Big Dipper is at top centre. Vega is at bottom left. Arcturus is a bottom right. This is a single frame with the TTArtisan 11mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 30 seconds with the Canon Ra at ISO 3200.

Dim Red Auroral Arc (Feb 26, 2022)

A dim aurora from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp1 level (very low) and appeared only as featureless grey arcs to the eye. But the camera picked up unusual red colouration, and even some yellow-oranges, along with the more normal greens. The reds are odd for such a low-level aurora as the oxygen reds typically appear only when the aurora gets very active and energetic. The display did brighten later this night when it took on the more classic green arcs, with occasional lower fringes of nitrogen pinks. But at the start of the night the reds dominated. The Big Dipper is at top centre; Leo is at right to the east. Vega is at far left. This is a single frame with the TTArtisan 11mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 for 30 seconds with the Canon Ra at ISO 3200.

Southern Sky and Aurora from CNSC (Feb 24, 2022)

A fish-eye image of the southern constellations and an auroral arc at the zenith from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Feb. 24, 2022. Orion and the winter stars are at right; Leo and the spring stars are at left.

Northern Sky and Zenith Aurora over CNSC

A fish-eye image of the northern constellations and an auroral arc at the zenith over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Feb. 24, 2022. The Big Dipper is at top, with Polaris and the Little Dipper left of centre. Cassiopiea is at far left over the tower.

Aurora Panorama from CNSC Deck (Feb 24, 2022)

A 180° panorama of the aurora borealis from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba on February 24, 2022. The Kp Index was only 2 this night producing a mild display with not a lot of activity or motion, but it was extensive with arcs over most of the sky. This was the night before the first Learning Vacations group arrived since my last group in March 2020. Cassiopeia is at far left; the handle of the Big Dipper is right of centre; Leo is rising at far right. This is an 6-segment panorama with the Canon R6 camera at ISO 1600 for 30 seconds each with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Under the Northern Lights in Churchill

A selfie of me under the aurora borealis in Churchill, Manitoba, March 19, 2020. This was at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre looking north to the boreal forest. This is a single 10-second exposure at f/2.8 with the Canon 15mm full-frame fish-eye lens on the Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 3200.

Auroral Arc - Single Arc Example

An example of single bright auroral arc, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, March 19, 2020. A single image with the 15mm full-frame fish-eye lens and Canon EOS Ra.

Group Viewing the Aurora at CNSC

A group of staff and volunteers at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre enjoy the Northern Lights show on March 19, 2020, the last night of the aurora tourist season for the year. The aurora shows the classic lower green arc topped by tall curtains of red, all from oxygen atoms. This is a single 10-second exposure at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 with the 15mm full-frame fish-eye lens and Canon EOS Ra.

Auroral Arc - Dual Arc Example

An example of twin weak auroral arcs, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, March 19, 2020. A single image with the 15mm full-frame fish-eye lens and Canon EOS Ra.

Aurora Panorama at Northern Studies Centre (March 18, 2020)

A 180° panorama of the Northern Lights over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre on March 18, 2020 during an active Kp 3 to 4 display. The subtle reds and magentas show up only in the camera; the eye sees some colour in the green arcs when the aurora brightens enough as it did this night. Orion and Sirius are setting at far left. Due north is at centre. Arcturus is above the snow bank at right. This is a panorama of 10 segments, each 6 seconds at ISO 1600 and f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Sony a7III. Stitched with Photoshop.