- Eta Piscium
- Mirach
- Markab
The Curch at Budir in the light of the Aurora
Framed large on a black background.
This is my most viewed image here on Flickr and to tell U the truth, one of my favorites. It was taken 2007, on feb. 22nd at 10.45 AM. The church was lit up by light in the ground in front of the building and all the surroundings was lit up by the aurora. It was a quite a moment there in the calm night and one could imagine one self hearing the crackling sound of the northern lights.
I've developed it again and uploaded in a higher resolution with some extra info on what is and can be seen on this image.
This is taken in the direction to the west, the church in the foreground and Mount Axlarhyrna in the background. The lit up sky is not just by the northern lights, but light pollution coming from the other side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, a small town called Olafsvik. The aurora activity that night didn't last long and didn't give a spectacular show, but it posed quiet good for this shot. Framing the scene and giving the divisions in the cropped image a divine subject.
This is a common direction and behaviour of the auroras here in Iceland. Giving us a splendid show late evening, say 9-12 am, and in streams from west to the east. Usually lasting for couple of hours they display white colors, white-blueish and pale green. This color (on the image) is a little bit to green for my taste and memory of the incident. Although mentioned, I've never heard a sound from auroras, I've heard claims of people hearing crackling sound, but to tell you the truth, I don't buy it. Auroras appear in the height of 100-250 km, approx. ten times higher than an average passenger jet flies. Up there, there's hardly a carrier for soundwaves down to the ground.
Some of the brightest stars are "Eta Piscium" up to the right from the flag pole. Then "Mezarithm", "Sheratan", "Hamal", "Rasalmothallah", "Mirach", "Alpheratz" and more. The bright star setting down on the Mount Axlarhyrna is "Markab".
Just to the right of the cropped image is the moon, waxing crescent and just 6 days old.
Comments and faves
Gussi Jons, cayisn, dcschaub, planet kitchen, and 33 other people added this photo to their favorites.
NYC Comets (64 months ago | reply)
Very beautiful and subtle; nice aurora.
Saverus (64 months ago | reply)
this picture looks really amazing! like a piece of a fairy tale!
Gussi Jons (64 months ago | reply)
Glæsileg mynd :) Fave for sure :)
winpsy (64 months ago | reply)
eerily beautiful
fredschalk (63 months ago | reply)
Frábær mynd, og einungis tekin á 6 sek! Störnurnar eru þess vegna svo skýrar. Ég öfunda þig að vera með linsu sem er hægt að hafa á f.1.4!
G O M [deleted] (63 months ago | reply)
wow, beautiful !!!
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
cayisn (63 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
Fabiana.Baioni (60 months ago | reply)
Viewed in Wonderful photos for the world
this photo is a dream!
congratulations for the great moment you have captured!
Ian BC North (60 months ago | reply)
Wonderful subject and composition!
There is something about Iceland which seems to inspire an artistic sensibility. I am greatly tempted to visit someday.
Viewed in Wonderful photos for the world
PAUL1852X (60 months ago | reply)
Viewed in Wonderful photos for the world
dcschaub (60 months ago | reply)
stunning image
Viewed in Wonderful photos for the world
samirdiwan (58 months ago | reply)
I saw this in the 10+ Faves group and Faved it.
lesprit_descalier (58 months ago | reply)
Stunning! Magical, yet real. :)
I saw this in the 10+ Faves group and Faved it.
slipper buddha (58 months ago | reply)
beautiful picture...
I saw this in the 10+ Faves group and Faved it.
llanosom (58 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous!!!
I saw this in the 10+ Faves group and Faved it.
Richard Wynn (35 months ago | reply)
I appreciate the extra information. Thank you