Aurora Event on April 23 Was a Blaze of Glory

 

Most of the United States was aware of the good possibility of aurora (Northern Lights) for Sunday, April 23, 2023, as attested by this spaceweather.com email alert the day before (above). "Minor to strong" geomagnetic storms were predicted by the (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). States in the midwest were among those listed for possible viewing of the event. As it turned out, the storm was much more intense than previously forecasted.

I began monitoring my Aurora Alerts app frequently as it grew dark on Sunday evening. This intense display (above) prompted me to locate to an area north of the light-polluted metro area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and I selected Lowe Park on the northern edge of Marion, Iowa. 

At my selected spot in Lowe Park (42° 4'4.57"N,  91°36'16.06"W) and set up my camera on a tripod looking north. By 9:59 pm CDT (above), the aurora was low on the horizon, but building in brightness. It sported blue pillars in this image, which was a 6 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 1600, 11mm focal length.

10:03 pm Aurora Alerts polar view. The red area is the most intense activity. Yellow areas are now as far south as northern Kansas.

10:13 pm. The peak days of the Lyrids Meteor Shower were coincidentally occurring during the same time as the aurora's arrival, but this was still a very lucky capture for me! The bright meteor appeared just about a second before this particular exposure ended. 6 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 11mm focal length.

10:27 pm Aurora Alerts view. The intense red area has reached south to the Canada/US border.

10:53 pm. Looking north. Aurora growing in brightness, with tendrils extending upward. 4 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2000, 11mm focal length. It was about this time I considered heading back home--I had captured my prized meteor pic and the aurora didn't appear to be expanding much. (I'm glad I stayed...)

10:56 pm. The occurrence that stopped me dead in my tracks and kept me from leaving was this solitary well-defined pillar that suddenly formed at center. This signaled the beginning of the intensifying stage of the geomagnetic storm. 4 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2000, 11mm focal length.

11:05 pm. Now the "fireworks" were beginning. The aurora's features were brightening and growing higher in the north sky. 4 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 1600, 11mm focal length.

11:11 pm. Looking NNE. 3 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2000, 11mm focal length.

Extended image of the pic above it. At lower left the moon and the planet Venus can be seen. The pillars give the aurora a "crown" appearance in this panorama shot. North is at center.

11:13 pm. Aurora now exhibiting a "twisted ribbon" appearance. 3 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2000, 11mm focal length.

11:15 pm. Extended pillars. 2.5 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2000, 11mm focal length.

11:16 pm. Similar view. Image looks NNE and is a 2 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 11mm focal length.

11:19 pm. Aurora expanding and with pillars reaching skyward. 2 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 11mm focal length.

11:20 pm. Similar view. 2 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 11mm focal length.

11:25 pm. Aurora now more diffuse, decreasing slightly in intensity, but growing in area. The upper parts had reached the zenith in the sky. Image looks northeast. 2 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 11mm focal length. It was at this time I began experiencing the ghostly ripple phenomenon. A faint and very fast moving "ripple" ran horizontally through the illuminated areas, making me think this is how a ripple through time and space must look like. 2 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 11mm focal length.

11:29 pm. Looking northeast. Intensity was now ebbing, and this was the last capture I made before returning home. 3 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 2500, 11mm focal length. Temperature was in the upper 20s F. This event was classified as a G4 "severe" geomagnetic storm. It is reported to have descended all the way south to Mexico. The solar maximum, at which time the sun reaches its highest activity, is due next year. The high/low cycle is in a span of about 11 years. The last time I have witnessed a comparable storm to this one in Cedar Rapids was on November 5, 2001. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera. Tokina AT-X Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8 aspherical lens. Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT tripod.

11:51 pm. Still packing a punch in this Aurora Alerts polar view.