Northern Lights Flights

The Northern Lights Flights

The following images are copyright Paul Money (unless otherwise credited) and permission is granted to download them and print for your own personal use to show family and friends. All views and comments made here are my own personal observations. It should be noted that as the aircraft is continually moving (of which I'm glad!) the images are long exposures of several seconds, with the Minolta and Canon cameras generally 15 seconds. Thus some star trailing occurs on the original raw images. Where it is possible I have done my best to correct the trailing with image processing , always with the aim of recreating how it really looked and compensating for any trailing of the stars. I hope you enjoy the images. Some of the best images of the most recent flights are now available to purchase as gifts from the Astrospace online shop.

Noted Astrophotographer Pete Lawrence has become part of the regular team and has also managed to get some great images so why not check out his web site for more flight images. An overview of the flights and the best of the images can also be found on this new site created by Pete to gather together the best images of each flight (from the November 2007 flights) so do check out the Auroraflights web site.

Index of flight seasons with images
2005 flights	2006 flights	2007 flights	2008 flights	2009 Flights	2010 Flights Note seperate page now

November/December 2009

For the Birmingham flight on Nov 13th see Pete Lawrence's web site as the pictures I took were of poor quality
The East Midlands flight 121109
A reasonable display with some occasional detail.
The Newcastle flight 151109
Another reasonable display which had some decent detail at times with rays and pulses.
The Manchester flight 161109
Moderate display which we had to chase a little but quite visible with some structure.

The Bristol flight 171109
This display was relatively low key but we werfe lucky in having an excellant Crew who negotiated for us to fly further North than normal which did gives us a better display. I managed to get an unusual view by taking a photograph showing the windows with the Aurora as a band across them as in the final image at right.

The Luton flight 181109
A good display again with some structure along the main auroral band and some rays at times. Even with the Nav lights on detail could still be seen.

The Gatwick flight 201109
A dim display for most of the on station flight but activity picked up shortly before we had to begin the return homewards and I manged to get two reasonable images shown here.
December flights: Note the Leeds flight on Dec 14th was one of the rare flights when no aurora was visible.
The Stansted flight 131209
Only one semi reasonable image taken as I was busy helping passengers. Still an interesting view taken as we headed back which shows the faint glow reflected off the wing.
The Blackpool flight 151209
A reasonable display to end the 2009 flight season. Some structure with rays and bright patches were visible.

January - March 2009 flights

For the Gatwick and Glasgow flights in January see Pete Lawrence's web site as I was taken ill and could not fly :-(
The Doncaster flight 280109
A dim display with a weak band.
The First Exeter flight 290109
As the display was quite faint I only managed to get one image that was 'reasonable'.
The Second Exeter flight 300109
Only three reasonable images taken on this flight but at least there was some detail in the band especially as we turned back for home.	As we turned back the Aurora kicked in and both sides of the plane managed to look back at it. This view is from the Starboard side.	Another view shortly after the first taken from the Port side. Note the faint glow of the Aurora on the wing and the dark silhouette of the wing tip.
Another view shortly after the first taken from the Starboard side. Note the faint glow of the Aurora on the wing and the dark silhouette of the wing tip is visible on this image as well.		A green light (not aurora!) ghostly illuminates Nigel and Pete whilst they do their commentary on the flight.
The East Midlands flight 200209
A good display with plenty of fast moving rays and bright patches that were hard to keep up with.	Note part of Cygnus (Northern Cross) at right and above the main band.	Another view taken shortly after the left image.
I managed to get a wide angle shot of Orion, Sirius and Taurus on the way back with only slightly jiggled stars.
The Gatwick flight 220209
Sadly a very poor display with a barely visible glow which faded more as the flight progressed. The image here is the best I was able to obtain. A faint red display is often indicative of a weak aurora.	This image has been enhanced as much as I dare and I have endeavoured to 'clean' up the slight jiggling of the stars. Cygnus and Lyra at centre and right are well shown with the Milky Way running diagonally from upper left to centre lower right.
The Bristol flight 230209
Another good display with plenty of detail despite the previous flights poor showing.	Lots of structure showing with multiple bright patches developing then fading.	This image taken shortly after the previous one helps to show how quick the aurora can change.
Another good display with plenty of detail despite the previous flights poor showing.	Lots of interesting detail along the base of the aurora was evident.	A bright patch developed below Cygnus.
The aurora just kept going!	A very prominent band with ripples along it ran under the stars of Pegasus and Andromeda.	As we headed back the aurora could still be seen from the Starboard (right) side looking back - note the reflection of the aurora off the wing!
Still visible on the Starboard (right) side looking back - note the reflection of the aurora off the wing! The constellation of Aries lies just to the left of the wing tip.	Occasionally I try to get a constellation image but imaging the stars is far more tricky from an aircraft. Aurora can often be defuse in nature so any slight trailing is not as noticeable unlike stars! This view shows Orion with the bright star at lower left being Sirius, the Dog Star in Canis Major.	For the February flights we were also lucky enough to have a naked eye Comet, Comet Lulin and I managed to take an image which I have 'extensively cleaned up the trailing to show the comet. Click here for an annotated version showing which is the comet and which is planet Saturn.
It's not often the aurora is so bright that I can take an image showing the window lit up and the silhouette of fellow astronomer Pete Lawrence as he takes his picture of the display!	And another similar view - note how clear it is to see Pete's glasses!
The Birmingham flight 240209
Another poor display which was a great shame but the view of the stars was good for everyone. These two images were the best I managed and unfortunately had a lot of jiggled stars!
The Newcastle flight 150309
Streetlights as we fly North from Newcastle	The initial display was a general band with little in the way for detail.	There was signs however that things could improve.
And it did improve as the band developed structure which was subtly changing all the time.	Another view with subtle detail including brighter patches and a few faint rays extending upwards.	The display did vary and before we headed back it 'calmed down' becoming a more diffuse band.
On the return journey to Newcastle the Moon rose adding to the experience. Normally we operate the flight during 'No Moon' periods i.e. close to Nw Moon wherevere possible. However our Newcastle flight was delayed for approx an hour so this time we did spot the moon on the way back.	This is a composite view combining a long exposure to show the clouds and a short exposure to show some detail on the moon.	A closer view of the moon - note the quality is not good due to the window I had to photograph through.
The Manchester flight 200309
Manchester City Centre showing the level of light pollution going up into the night sky.	Image #1 This was a 'gentle display' with some slight structure as these two images show.	Image #2
Image #3 and the display continued with a general diffuse band although the camera could record the colour better than the eye.	Orion the Hunter slowly set as we flew back.
The Gatwick flight 220309
I got no decent pictures mainly as I was spending more time down the plane helping the passengers. See the Aurora Flights web site by Pete Lawrence for some of the images he managed to get.
The Doncaster flight 230309
For the main part of 'on station aurora watching' the display was quiet with only a faint band and subtle structure with some faint magenta/red rays from the base. However we were lucky enough for it to brighten as we headed back and the captain obtained permission to do an orbit so everyone got a chance to view the upsurge in actvity before we finally headed back. I only imaged the faint stuff as during the quick 'orbit' I concentrated on making sure the passengers could see the display but check Pete Lawrences aurora flights web site for images of the brief bright display.
Image #1 Not that in several images the magenta/red rays can just be made out.	Image #2	Image #3 A very weak and diffuse band.
Image #4	A longer exposure taken on the way back but before the upsurge. This shows the dark wing with Taurus and the star cluster M45, Pleiades above the wing and part of Orion at left.	Pete Lawrence after we saw the bright upsurge and when the cabin lights came back on.
The Leeds/Bradford flight 240309
Image #1 A good display with lots of varying structure.	Image #2	Image #3 Several bright yellowish patches developed along the base of the main band.
Image #4	Image #5	Image #6
The Exeter flight 260309
A bright and strong band with little extra structure but well seen by all.	Image #2 The view on the way back as it briefly had an upsurge. This was taken on the starboard side (right hand side).	Image #3 Similar but fainter vie wlooking back from the Port (left) side. Cygnus is the main constellation visible.
Peter Truman and Nigel Bradbury (L & R) as we head home with the cabin lights back on with Sylvia the Omega Tour Manager for the Northern Lights flights behind them.	The fantastic crew of the FlyBe Exeter Northern Lights flight. Our thanks to the ground staff who patiently waited for me to take the picture!
The EMA (East Midlands) flight 270309
A great display to end the start of the 2009 season!	Streetlights taken not long after taking off.	The display kicks off as the initial auroral band suddenly shows signs of having activity.
The display intensifies with lots of quick moving structure making it difficult to keep up!	It maintains the rapid development with curtains and rays developing.	This is the view taken from the small porthole in the doors which acts like a fisheye lens but does introduce some refraction and distortion to the images.
Another porthole view taken shortlty after tha last view and showing the development of the bright patches.	A short while later the two bright patches formed to give a weird view which I call the 'Devils Eyes' aurora as two bright patches with rays developed as can be seen here.	Finally we head home but the display continued as this view looking back demonstrates.
What a great display to finish the Jan- March 2009 season with!

Autumn 2008 flights

The Liverpool flight 261008
A couple of my images came out reasonable so here they are. The best one is also available to purchase via my online web shop.	Good auroral band with some subtle detail developing then fading.	A better image with more structure developing in the sub arc at the bottom of the main auroral band.
I also spotted the dim planet Uranus with the naked eye and managed to photograph the star field and it but the initial image had trailed stars. I've used a technique I've found to try to recreate from the image what could be seen and I've heavily processed it to bring out Uranus and the faint stars and this is the best I've managed. Here is the initial view at left and this link is an annotated version with and enlargement of the area with Uranus marked.
The First Norwich flight 021108 (for images of the 2nd flight check out Pete Lawrence's auroraflights web site)
As the display was quite faint I only managed to get one image that was 'reasonable'.
The Leeds/Bradford flight 231108
Only two reasonable images taken on this flight but at least there was some detail in the band.	Note the bright patch under the 'Keystone' of Hercules. The bright star at upper left is Vega.	Another view shortly after the first.
The East Midlands flight 241108
Poor and weak display with only one image worth putting up. The main triangle of stars are the top end of Bootes the Herdsman.
The Birmingham flight 251108
Prior to the flight the pre flight talk was held at the Windmill Village Hotel near Coventry where I managed to take this picture of Venus and Jupiter in the twilight sky.
Good display as the strong solar wind from a coronal hole reached us over the next couple of days. Reasonable detail was seen visually and photographically.
The Bristol flight 261108
Another good display as the solar wind from the coronal hole continued to buffet the Earths magnetic field with some structure and rays noted in the aurora.	Note the rays pointing up towards the centre of the image. The two green horizontal strip at right are actually reflections from the fluorescent floor safety strips!	Some red was caught by the camera as well as the green main band. Note that the sharp dark base is actually the edge of the window!
Quite a bright band with hints of structure and plenty of stars.	A good view of the aurora as we turned back showing the dark wing against the brighter aurora plus the constellation of Lyra the lyre.	Part of the constellation of Leo the Lion rising on the port (left) side as we head home.
The Gatwick flight 281108
Weak display with only one of my images showing aurora. A faint red aurora usually indicates a very weak display with the magnetic component tipping North.
The Newcastle flight 301108
Very weak display and I did not get any images but did capture the planets Venus and Jupiter as they drew closer before we took the flight and many passengers saw them before the pre flight presentation.	Close view of the conjunction of the two planets from the Brittania Hotel car park.	Wide field view of the two planets
The Manchester flight 011208
Another weak display but one images was captured by me plus a view of city lights as we flew over them - at this stage I don't know the city!	Very red and weak display.	City lights as we fly over them.

2005 flights

Here are some examples of the images I have taken on the Liverpool John Lennon flight of March 8^th 2005 with a Minolta Dimage Z1 Digital SLR. All exposures were on manual setting and are 15 seconds at F2.8 ISO 400 equivalent.

The initial Auroral band is sighted and is fairly diffuse	It often begins to break into structure with brighter portions flaring up and other parts fading or pulsing
A main bright band develops with brighter patches shimmering along its length	The auroral band sometimes curves back on itself and 'Rays' extend up from parts of the brightest sections

These images were taken using the same equipment on the Gatwick, Leeds-Bradford and Liverpool John Lennon flights November/December 2005 exposures were between 15 and 30 seconds.

This shows the main Auroral band developing a bright section. Image taken on the Liverpool John Lennon Flight Dec 4th 2005	A bright band developed on the Gatwick flight Nov 28th with rays extending up from it.
Enhanced view of the Gatwick image of Nov 28th 2005	This is my best image so far and was taken on the Leeds-Bradford flight on Nov 29th 2005

2006 flights

These images were taken using a Canon 300D DSLR on the Spring 2006 flights from Norwich, East Midlands Airport, Gatwick (2 flights on different nights) and Manchester. The Norwich flight was an early evening flight so we also got several bonuses of Mercury, Sunset and the Earths Shadow.

A Glorious Sunset to start the Norwich flight off with!	Norwich: The twilight sky and at far left near the horizon lies the planet Mercury - a rare event from a Northern Lights flight as they are normally quite late in the evening for take-off.
Norwich: The Earths shadow approaching us from the East.	Norwich: Cygnus and Lyra with the Aurora through them and the last vestiges of twilight at far left. Note the aircraft lights in the distance below Lyra.
Norwich: Cygnus and Lyra with the Aurora through them - a fainter band but quite a few stars!	East Midlands Flight (EMA) 270206: Aurora in Pegasus with Andromeda and its famous galaxy visible at upper left. Click here for an annotated enhanced version.
Another view from the East Midlands flight	EMA 270206: Cassiopeia from approx 36,000 ft.
Gatwick flight 020306: Main band across the sky with a hint of the Milky Way as well.	Gatwick flight 020306: Upper Cygnus with Milky Way and Aurora to the lower left
Gatwick flight 020306: Best view with rays on far right.	Panoramic view of main Auroral band and wing in darkness
Two week gap to let the Moon get out of the way.
Gatwick flight 220306: Note the curtain effect along the base of the aurora.	Gatwick flight 220306: This view shows rays extending up near the wing tip from a brighter patch of the main band.
Gatwick flight 220306: This view taken shortly after the last image.	Manchester flight 260306: - the best Aurora yet!
Manchester flight 260306: note the detail along the lower part of the Aurora.	Manchester flight 260306: Note Cygnus above the aurora and wing tip illuminated by the red nav lights and yet the aurora is still viewable.
Manchester flight 260306: more structure can be seen in the lower parts of the band.	Manchester flight 260306: Even a direct view of the red Nav light doesn't completely prevent viewing a display!
Northern Lights Flights Autumn 2006
Gatwick 2nd Flight November 22nd 2006. This was the only good shot I got but the display was excellent!
Norwich: 231106 - a stunning aurora and probably the best any of us have seen in recent years. Note the multiple bands and the green and red glows.	Norwich: 231106 - the display lasted most of the flight with the POSS web site reporting activity between 6 and 9 (where 10 is the best!). Here we see a brightening of sections of the main band with a lighter ray extending from the right end of it.
Norwich: 231106 - What more can we say - absolutely stunning amount of detail with multiple bright patches and structure all along the band.	Norwich: 231106 - the view as we were almost ready to turn back for Norwich Airport. The main display had settled down but still with some structure. The two main stars of Gemini are at right, Castor (top) and Pollux (bottom).

2007 flights

Note some flights had images taken by Pete Lawrence so visit his site: www.digitalsky.org.uk and the main auroraflights.co.uk site

Gatwick flight : 120307 - reasonable diffuse band across the sky with little activity but still enjoyable to see. This image was the only one I got that was worth putting on the web site of this flight.
East Midlands 'Anniversary' flight 140307. I call this the anniversary flight as it happens to be Lorraine and my wedding anniversary! Lorraine very kindly allowed me to be on this flight which was also special as my Father was on board for his 70th birthday surprise :-)
The lights kick in!		We had a pretty good display!
The Birmingham flight 160307
Good auroral band with some subtle detail	Better image with some success with recording the stars	Constellation of Auriga
The November flights: Images for the Newcastle Nov 7th, Liverpool Nov 8th, Norwich Nov 11th, Bristol Nov 14th and Birmingham Nov 16th flights were mainly taken by Pete Lawrence
Leeds/Bradford flight 081107
View of Tyneside from the plane! Click here for an annotated version.	The view of a reasonable auroral band with some decent structure
Manchester flight 091107
Best and only decent image I was able to take. The aurora kicked in very detailed with just 10 minutes of 'rotation time' left before we had to head back!
Norwich flight 111107
Quite a faint display and I only got these images when it brightened a little as we headed back.		Although the aurora is faint (behind the wing) I like the effect of the stars and the wing with the city lights trailed below
Gatwick 2nd flight 121107 - a great display for all to enjoy!
Dartford and London as we set off!	We soon find out we're in for a good display.	It got better with much subtle details, pulses and rays.
Lots of detail with ripples along the aurora base	We didn't want to leave it behind - but you have to return home sometime!
East Midlands flight 151107 - another great display for all to enjoy!
Great start to the display with lots of structure	It got brighter with several bands and rays.
Several very kind passengers on either sides of the plane allowed me to capture images with the wings silhouetted against the bright aurora
These two views were taken from the other side of the plane thanks to the kind passengers. Note several rays were very bright! Behind the wingtip the dark patch resembled an anvil - which was pointed out by Pete in his commentary.		In the meantime whilst I roamed up and down the plane giving advice, Nigel and Pete gave a running commentary - don't they look spooky!

2008 flights

Note some flights had images taken by Pete Lawrence so visit www.auroraflights.co.uk

The Bristol flight 040308
Only one image came out reasonable as it was a weak display that only kicked in just before we had to turn back for home.
The Birmingham flight 070308
The display began with a weak double band - note the large number of stars captured in this view - I managed to keep the camera steady! The darkened wing tip can also just be seen at the lower right edge.	Good auroral band with some bright patches developing then fading.	Better image with some success with recording the stars although they were slightly out of focus. Andromeda lies diagonally through the middle whilst Aries is at the left edge.
Newcastle flight 090308
From the outset it was apparent that this display was going to be superb!	And it continued with bright pulses, rays and patches quickly forming then fading.	The rays often extended quite high and sometimes reached Cassiopeia!
Lots of detail and a lot of very happy aurora watchers on board the plane!
Gatwick flight 250308 - Note there were two flights with the 2nd on march 26th but I was not on that flight
It was apparent that this display was going to be very good!	Lots of detail along the bottom edge with more to come.	Some good rays were seen.
Lots of structure and at times I (Paul) could see a red tinge to the upper parts which came out in this 25 seconds exposure at ISO 3200.

ã Paul L Money 2010