By: LeRoy Zimmerman


Region: Polar Regions

Site: Fairbanks - Alaska - USA

Date: 2001 March 31

Aurora Corona in Alaska. When a bright auroral patch leads to a point directly above the observer, the aurora may appear as a "corona" of diverging rays, an effect of perspective. As noted by the photographer "It was the evening of March 31, 2001, and the auroras were going off the charts. In Fairbanks there was a covering of clouds, so the drive began in search of clear skies. A weather man friend of mine said to go north west of the city if we could, and the only route to that area was the Elliot Highway, which was the beginning section of roadway that went up to the North Slope oil fields. After about 40 miles of driving, we came upon a clear patch of sky, and standing overhead was the inner wall of the aurora oval. And high above standing atop the atmosphere was an aurora wall 600 miles tall. Monstrous columns of red light standing atop sections of green light. And a hint of moon near the lower right edge of the image provided some illumination to the clouds that night. The top of the image is north, east on the left, and west on the right, and south out the bottom edge. Looking south, as far as the eye could see, the sky was filled with red, and looking north the sky was completely void of any aurora light at all. Only a deep black, star filled sky. This was the 'eyewall' of the aurora storm that was raging over the planet that night. Storm going on to the south as far as the eye could see, and only dark calm and stillness to the north. After the display had quieted and it was time to drive back home, the snow began to fall a few miles down the road, and the sky was forever hidden from view the rest of the evening. Sometimes things just work out". LeRoy Zimmerman/Photosymphony.com.

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