Aurora – Vantaa, 2006 August 19/20

This event took me all by surprise. Being on a bike tour near the border between the cities of Helsinki and Vantaa, the photographic equipment on board was close to insufficient. However, I was able to catch some nice images to remember this truly amazing aurora display – especially considering the low solar activity level at the moment.

After I noticed some faint aurora on the horizon for the first time around 2240 EEST (1940 UTC) it only took a few moments until the first visible substorm illuminated the sky over Helsinki-Vantaa international airport N 60°31.82 E 24°96.81.

Image caption: Vantaa, Helsinki-Vantaa airport. 2006-08-19, 2248 EEST (1948 UTC) N 60°30.73 E 24°99.28

Within a few seconds, the static arc changed into a fast moving curtain of aurora beams.

Image caption: Vantaa, Helsinki-Vantaa airport. 2006-08-19, 2250 EEST (1950 UTC) N 60°30.73 E 24°99.28

Not even the bright street lamps from next to where I was standing could disturb the great view of a three-colour band dancing in the north-east.

Image caption: Vantaa, Helsinki-Vantaa airport. 2006-08-19, 2251 EEST (1951 UTC) N 60°30.73 E 24°99.28

Violet, white and green – this aurora was the brightest I have seen in the Helsinki area so far – it was even brighter than the more static arc on September 12 last year.

Visually, I recall to have seen some yellow at the bottom of the beamers as well; imagination or not, the pictures don’t show it.

Image caption: Vantaa, Helsinki-Vantaa airport. 2006-08-19, 2252 EEST (1952 UTC) N 60°30.73 E 24°99.28

Luckily, there were still a few flights scheduled for this evening, so I was able to capture a picture I had been dreaming of for quite some time: A Finnair MD-11 on flight number AY097 to Bangkok departing from runway 22R, with some faint aurora in the sky (could have been stronger for my taste, but aurora photography is always a game of chance).

Image caption: Vantaa, Helsinki-Vantaa airport. 2006-08-19, 0000 EEST (2100 UTC) N 60°30.84 E 24°89.80

A few minutes later, flight AY 3109 to Tallinn started from the same runway.

Image caption: Vantaa, Helsinki-Vantaa airport. 2006-08-19, 0007 EEST (2107 UTC) N 60°30.84 E 24°89.80

This old wooden building next to the brightly lit highway to Tuusula is another example – after my Aurora urbanis series – that watching auroras is well possible even in the most densely inhabitated areas of the country.

Image caption: Vantaa, Ylästö. 2006-08-19, 0040 EEST (2140 UTC) N 60°28.23 E 24°97.68