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Cool aurora pic

December 26, 2006

Check out this gorgeous picture of an aurora, taken in Iowa.  From Iowa Citizens for Science

I remember being thrilled by Auroras as a kid in Iowa, ‘round 1963 maybe.  I remember standing in the dark by my dad’s ‘53 Mercury as he explained how they worked (Van Allen being rather big heat at the University of Iowa where my father was a professor).  I was standing on the ground, looking at something considerably North and 100 miles above, that emanated from our star 93m miles away.  (Enter rant *here* about kids nowadays holed up in their bedrooms watching videos instead of going outside to look at the sky)

Categories: Science & Technology
  1. December 26, 2006 at 17:23 | #1

    About 10 years ago an aurora was visible here in wester NY.  I hadn’t seen one since the summer of ‘72 or ‘73 while on a pontoon boat on Lake Scugog in Central Ontario.  (What a magical night that was!).  I went next door to the neighbours houses and called themout to see the display.  It was a fine evening, no reason to go back inside due to temperature, etc.

    Those who came out looked up, said, “Oh yeah”, looked for maybe 30 seconds, and then went back inside.  I was incredulous.  It suddenly struck me how many people were totally disconnected from their environment.  I knew then we were in trouble.

  2. December 27, 2006 at 00:08 | #2

    I remember the first time I saw an aurora.  Couldn’t believe it, having only seen such in pictures in books.  Truly awesome.

  3. December 27, 2006 at 10:09 | #3

    Such beauty only Mother Nature could provide. It is sad to think that many people alive today will never observe it.  Thank you for sharing.

  4. December 27, 2006 at 21:24 | #4

    Pretty amazing.  I wouldn’t mind having the chance of seeing one of these.

    I watched a Frontline episode the other night with my parents on weight and diets.  And my Dad (and the show soon after) made the point that back when he was a kid in the 50’s and 60’s, children went out more and actually did stuff.  Now parents use TV’s, computers, and video games as babysitters. 

    And sure enough children are getting fatter (and type two diabetes) at younger ages.  I promise to never let this happen to my future children and my already to-out-of-shape ass…

  5. December 28, 2006 at 19:04 | #5

    Webs:  Maybe 45-50 years ago, I saw an aurora at 25 Briarwood Av3, Normal… So there is hope for you.  :D

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