The mysterious lights of the aurora borealis are a thing of legend. Some people live where they can see this phenomenon nearly every night, while others of us can only imagine what it must be like to see these eerie and awe-inspiring lights dancing across the night skies. This information-packed volume will take away some of the mystery, but not the awe, as it reveals what meteorologists have learned about the lights, and how and why they occur.

The mysterious lights of the aurora borealis are a thing of legend. Some people live where they can see this phenomenon nearly every night, while others of us can only imagine what it must be like to see these eerie and awe-inspiring lights dancing across the night skies. This information-packed volume will take away some of the mystery, but not the awe, as it reveals what meteorologists have learned about the lights, and how and why they occur.

Electric green pierced by neon blue, shocking pink spinning into violent red, and shimmering purple sidled up against deep indigo: never before have you seen such high-octane colors in the sky, and never before has a book shown the northern lights-aurora borealis-in such vivid color. In Northern Lights, photographers Calvin Hall and Daryl Pederson bring to print nearly a hundred photographs of this amazing natural phenomenon, shot from remote locations all over Alaska and using no filters or digital enhancement. Just as fascinating are the legends, myths, and science surrounding this polar phenomenon, described by George Bryson. As 2002 marks the peak viewing time of the northern lights in an eleven-year cycle, this book brings the elusive magic of the northern lights to stargazers near and far.

Award-winning photographer and accomplished instructor Andy Long provides a comprehensive guide to photographing the Aurora Borealis. It, readers will learn everything they need to know about photographing this phenomenon—along with some very special techniques designed to help kick their image-making up to the next level. Long covers all the details from simply understanding the aurora and figuring out when and where to shoot, to picking the right gear to maximize your success, to processing your digital files after the shoot too maximize your results. You’ll learn how to capture the moon, star trails, and Milky Way in your images of the aurora—and even how to produce dazzling time-lapse images. Also covered are practical matters, like coping with long, cold, night-time shoots (and the equipment problems that can accompany them) and optimizing camera settings to reduce noise, maximize detail, and enhance/downplay lens distortion.

Authoritative account written for the general reader.

Popular natural history writer Savage takes readers inside the mystery of the beautiful phenomenon of the aurora borealis, explaining how aurorae happen and how humans have stood in awe and devised whole cosmologies around them since time immemorial. Over 60 photos, 34 in color. Map.

The aurora borealis or northern lights are an atmospheric display that occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. For centuries, people have watched auroras with wonder. Today, we know that auroras form because of charged particles from the sun. Your young explorers will learn how auroras form and why auroras are different colors. Stunning photographs, fun fact boxes, and helpful diagrams assist readers' comprehension of this fascinating atmospheric phenomenon.