Aurora borealis
 

The first image was taken by Jim Henderson, in northeast Scotland on the 21st. Second in Norway by Liodden on the same night. I could never paint such beauty in my lifetime, especially since these lights "dance" in the sky.

These images come from Spaceweather.com in their Aurora gallery. I'm a sky watcher from way back and these are the most amazing images I've seen yet.

Enjoy..

Jean

Jean, these are stunning. Thanks for sharing them!

This is a very mixed-mode place, Texas. Seems to me it's getting hard to find a Texan here, and when I 'fess up to being a Northerner and kind of missing the seasons, including the snow, there are always a bunch of nods from the group du jour. This happens especially when I revel in the arrival of spring after a hard winter. It's no mistake that religious revival and redemption themes resonate through the spring calendar. (Sorry, south-of-the-equator folks --- somehow the north half got dibs on the maps.) Even Easter is, after all, based in agricultural lore -- namely, the renewal and "redemption" of spring.

The first time you see the northern lights, you're stunned at how very small you are, and how wondrous the universe. To have had warm winters all my life and never have had the experience of the borealis would have been an unthinkable trade-off.

We had rare red ones here two years ago, my husband and I watched them dance for about thirty minutes before they faded. That feeling of being so small along with the electricity and sheer wonder can't be explained. You just have to experience it. I wish I could have seen these in person, but my imagination will have to do this time.

Jean

It occurs to me that even in the best attempts at using digital painting with all the "alien skins" at beck and call, would pale in comparison to this.

I literally am sitting here with my mouth open. Wowie Zowie. (that's high praise coming from a Frank Zappa fan) :sunnysmil


~Geary

The very first time I saw the northern lights was atop a mountain with a new boyfriend who later became my husband, and the father of my two sons. Very romantic!

The next time I witnessed the northern lights was right after my first son was born, late May 1978 (North Dakota). Each morning, at 3am, I would sit on the front stoop, feeding my sweet newborn, and watching the northern lights dance for us. Those were truly magical, magical nights. Every time I see an image of them now, I am right back there with my baby in my arms, in the silence of the night, with the gods of the heavens entertaining us :)

That's a beautiful story Pat, next time I see auroras I'll be seeing you under the lights with your baby!

Jean