April 7, 2000

Following the spectacular display of March 23, 1989, there were a couple of moderate displays visible from Perth, however the warnings were not so successful and I did not see them. Is was not until the next solar maximum of 2000 the I observed my next aurora.

In the early hours of Friday April 7, 2000, my wife woke me with the question, Why is the sky so red? One look outside was enough for me to know that there was a major aurora in progress, the first here since 1991. I immediately hurried out to where there were no street lights to observe and photograph the display.

The aurora was visible as an intense red glow reaching to an altitude of about 40 degrees, and centred about 20 degrees to the east of the south celestial pole. Several bright rays were also visible. After about 20 minutes the display had faded and was no longer visible in the growing twilight. I was about to leave when I noticed that the aurora had started again, this time to the west of the SCP. I managed to take 4 photographs before the twilight drowned out the aurora. Three of the photographs are shown below.


21:33 UT
60 seconds exposure, Fuji Superia 400 film.
50mm f/2 Nikkormat lens.

The Southern Cross is visible st the top of the image, with some of Centaurus visible to the right, and Carina below and left.


21:35 UT
30 seconds exposure, Fuji Superia 400 film.
50mm f/2 Nikkormat lens.


21:48 UT
60 seconds exposure, Fuji Superia 400 film.
50mm f/2 Nikkormat lens.