Colder than 56 below zero in Alaska
the Aurora taken in Alaska and although they are exceptionally better than what I was able to take, they did not reproduce the observation.
I didn’ t realize that the college I was now attending- University of Alaska- was a world leader in the study of the Aurora Borealis. In fact, the Geophysical Institute used to regularly launch multi-stage barium filled rockets to simulate the Aurora and we used to watch these giant orange dots in the sky that rapidly increased in size. Soon afterwards, the Aurora would appear with fierce intensity. What a treat for a freshman at a university located virtually in the middle of Alaska just 120 miles North of the majestic Mount McKinley( 20,320 feet). Some days when walking to
Aurora, Fairbanks, Alaska Circa 1971 Photo by Barry Epstein
The vivid bluish colors of the outer rings danced counterclockwise while the orangish hues swirled clockwise. The unbelievable light show came complete with a hissing sound effect. But then, the aurora borealis that I was intensely watching turned vertical and now it was just like a theater curtain, still moving and producing unique sounds that were mesmerizing. It was more than 30 degrees F below zero at around nine-o ' clock in the evening and I couldn’ t seem to look away and go inside my cabin in remote Fairbanks Alaska to warm up. But I had to eventually. My camera was mounted on a tripod and I kept shooting various exposures to try and capture this incredible experience. I did wind up getting some photos but they did not in any way represent what I and others were watching. Even today, I see so many photos of
Photo courtesy of Google
BARRY STEVEN EPSTEIN- PhotoAutobiography DRAFT 19 of 156