Aurora Rising

Milky Way and Aurora

Out on the Granite Tors trail near Fairbanks, Alaska

Structure Forms

Suddenly some structure started forming in the otherwise diffuse band. These microstructures seemed to just sail by like waves (only not really rolling I guess) to off over the horizon. Then I turned around. Look at the next photo!

Wave

One of the aurora microstructure "waves" that moved across the sky.

Go vertical

Then northern sky just erupted behind those smaller structures in the band. This was the best early morning aurora I've ever seen!

Corona

Stunning Electric Corona

Stunning Electric Corona

Auroral Corona

Not a minute after that eruption on the horizon this auroral corona danced overhead and seemed to last for a really long time. Usually only appearing for a few seconds, I think I had about a minute of shooting this one. In the center you might be able to make out the big dipper, but the stars were pretty dim compared to the northern lights that night!

Corona

Fills the Sky

Looking south from my campsite after the corona event.