Double arc Aurora in Shetland

 We have had a good run of Aurora sightings in Shetland and the possibility of more the coming week.

This Double arc aurora on the 3 February was  good to see but having first gone down to Sandsayre in Sandwick i ran into cloud. Tom Jamieson was down at the same time and we both made a comment that we needed to get to a clear spot.

Tom mentioned Tingwall but i wasn't keen as it was very icy and the roads round the loch can be very dangerous in this type of weather

I headed west to Bigton, the road was still icy so i took it very slow. I stayed in the top layby as the tracked was iced up and i didn't want to get stuck

Over the past few days i  have had messages from people who have had broken bones or got their car stuck on ice.

You could easily see the Aurora with the naked eye, seeing the Aurora has been well discussed  on Shetland Aurora Hunter on Facebook.

The cloud was still present but started to clear a bit revealing a double arc of green stretching out into the voe

There was a few rays early on but then a static Aurora for the most part, it was still good to see and i never would take seeing the Aurora for granted. Some Shetlanders have seen so many times it has lost its charm.

Over the last couple of weeks i have been booked to give talks on the Aurora, two in Shetland and a further one in Sheffield when we go south, by then hopefully things will be back to near normal

Aurora and the Moon

 Last night the Aurora appeared yet again but it coincided with a 90% Moon. Not the best for photographing as it washes out the green.

It was still very worth while getting out in the cold, for once the weather forecast was correct and it was 95% clear.

Not a lot of ice about which was good.

I went down to Sandsayre not chancing a trip over to the west side just in case of icy roads. As soon as i stepped out of the car i found out there was no wind, another bonus

Starting at the boats the green arch of the Aurora was just about visible to the eye as it moved to Red Alert.

Now clearly visible to the naked eye

I moved down to the jetty and beyond and it was nice to have some waves crashing on the rocks

The stats stayed strong until about 11pm then faded but by midnight it came strong again, this time catching out Glendale who didn't predict this surge

I was long in bed by then 

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Weak Shetland Aurora

Yesterday there was an inter planetary shock around 3.30pm which sparked off a weak Aurora initially

The Aurora started early around 18hrs but as usual there was plenty of cloud around

I headed down to Leebitton and Sandsayre in Sandwick

Just small patches of green showing

Lots of people now having outside lights on throughout the night, no reason for it really.

More light pollution this time at Sandlodge, always difficult to get a photo

At least it was good to see Orion

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