Wednesday 30 October 2019

Consecutive Aurora nights in Shetland

We have just seen 6 consecutive days of Aurora activity in Shetland although the first few days viewing was very difficult with very strong winds and heavy rain


Things started to improve on the fourth day but the aurora was fairly weak but still worth seeing.


I really relish getting out under any night sky especially when the Aurora is due. You have to watch the stats to have any clue what is going on, or check on Shetland Aurora Hunter for actual aurora sightings.


The problem with some apps is that on occasions they are way out with predictions, for instance on one of the nights it was not showing any activity so to speak, just a KP1 but the Aurora in Shetland was quiet bright , more like a KP3


This has happened many times before, last year one night I went down to Sumburgh to photograph the milky way as no Aurora had been predicted but I was soon picking up green on camera. As I made my way back to the car I could see the Aurora by eye, again two of the apps I have showed no activity.

More and more colour showed with high rays, a great display but few had been out and seen anything judging by the lack of photos the next day. The opposite can happen as well and most people have been caught out when a large aurora was due only to find nothing showing.


After all these are just predications it best just to go out as much as possible and experience the night yourself.