Fairbanks and vicinity general subjects' photos (Hope: spring break, credit card, closing)

[cjs123]

Originally Posted by Dakster

Wow. Great photos of the Auroras!

Thanks, Dakster; the only thing I wish I had done differently was adjust the shutter time; I still had it set for when the lights were more faint and while they became really bright, the sky wasn't THAT bright (though it was bright because the moon was up)--I like the bright lights in the dark sky, but oh well--live and learn. It is so easy to forget one little thing when you are running around and the wind is ready to blow you, your camera and your tripod off the deck.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by cjs123

Thanks, Dakster; the only thing I wish I had done differently was adjust the shutter time; I still had it set for when the lights were more faint and while they became really bright, the sky wasn't THAT bright (though it was bright because the moon was up)--I like the bright lights in the dark sky, but oh well--live and learn. It is so easy to forget one little thing when you are running around and the wind is ready to blow you, your camera and your tripod off the deck.

It's often trial and error. But when the moon is out I lower the ISO, or the exposure time. But I am with you in that I prefer dark skies, or at least dark nights.

But I do agree with Dakster. You got some really nice photos.

[cjs123]

Thanks, Ray.

I drive myself nuts sometimes with the stuff I know but then forget to do, usually some obvious thing.

Keeping an eye on Ovation; who knows, maybe by 2-4AM we'll be in the zone.

[cjs123]

Nice sunset last night. Aurora did show up; never really took off though it was pretty, along with the clouds on a moonlit night.

[RayinAK]

The Auroras are supposed to be very active this weekend, but according to the weather forecast there is supposed to be cloudy. Other than that, the Arctic Games will be a big event around Fairbanks this weekend, plus the Limited North American sled dog races at the 2nd Avenue (begins and ends on 2nd Ave). I believe that the sled dog races start Friday.

Arctic Winter Games:
http://awg2014.org

This is part of the AWG, not the Limited North American:

Dog mushing competition is held in two coed classes, junior and juvenile, with two mushers in each class, each with his or her own coach. Events include a long individual event, a short individual event, and a team event, with a total of six gold ulus awarded. Teams that regularly participate in dog mushing include Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. At the 2014 Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks the dog mushing events will be held at the Jeff Studdert Race Grounds.

[RayinAK]

A note about the weather forecast shows an opening Saturday evening. Lets hope that the Auroras will still be active:
National Weather Service

Tonight Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15. Northeast winds 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest by morning. Local gusts to 20 mph in the evening.

Saturday Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs in the lower 20s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night Decreasing clouds. Lows around 10 below. Light winds.

Sunday Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper teens. Light winds.

[RayinAK]

There has been a cloud cover most of the day, but I just looked outside and the sky is clear

According to the Auroras forecast at UAF, the Auroras are supposed to be active tonight through Sunday:
Aurora Forecast | Geophysical Institute

But the Auroras don't look very strong so far at the Ovation page:
OVATION Aurora

[cjs123]

If I am interpreting Ovation correctly, the bright green over your area means there is a strong likelihood you will see activity, but it is not indicative of how strong the lights will be...? Last night/this morning Ovation got better and better and while we did see lights, they weren't very bright (always glad to see them, though).

Thanks for posting the AWG info; it has been some time since I've looked at that. I like the countdown--which is almost over!

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by cjs123

If I am interpreting Ovation correctly, the bright green over your area means there is a strong likelihood you will see activity, but it is not indicative of how strong the lights will be...? Last night/this morning Ovation got better and better and while we did see lights, they weren't very bright (always glad to see them, though).

Thanks for posting the AWG info; it has been some time since I've looked at that. I like the countdown--which is almost over!

Yes, at least the leading edge of the bright green close to Fairbanks means that. If such are just over Fairbanks, then walk outside and take some photos, but there is no telling how bright they will be other than the brightest green followed by yellow or red.

From the IFSS (an international sled dog race that took place in North Pole a year ago):

[cjs123]

Nice shots!

I thought we would have some luck last night--clear and calm on the summit; the lights appeared but never really took off--always nice to see whatever you see, though.



Moon sure looked neat.



Today I drove up to Ester Dome; it was so bright looking toward Fairbanks it was hard to see much, but I did enjoy the stop and the view in the other direction. As I was walking back to my jeep I slipped and while I could have probably stopped myself and really tweaked a knee or wrist, I decided to just fall all the way down since it was just snow--then after landing, I realized I was awfully close to the back of the car. I don't think sliding under the car would have been a great move.



Then stopped at a place in Ester--that is, after I drove waaaay past it to the end of the Old Nanana Hwy and doubled back--grilled my own burger and had nice conversations with some local folks before heading back to Fairbanks.

Back up the hill late afternoon, when the White Mountains look so pretty. I'd sure like to tour that research station, but when I called about that I was told they only do that in summer.



Made another visit yesterday to Ice Alaska and as I was leaving I saw the musher taking folks out for a ride.
It's a nice-sized double loop run; I saw them when they were still pretty far off and waited for them to come around the bend. They're way in the back there in front of the spruce trees, a little to the right--as they came past me I hollered 'I want to go for another ride!'







Also went to Wells Street Co studio to see the annual watercolor exhibition; I met one of the artists in 2011 out at Chatanika and I enjoyed it so much I checked to see if it was there again, and it is. I think it's great how they promote local artists and I really liked a lot of the work.

Can't believe I am over half-way through my trip.