
Aurora Borealis: Nature's Light Show
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I was on a commercial aircraft between Tokyo and Detroit somewhere above the Aleutians. We flew into night and at about 35 thousand feet and I was able to experience the Northern lights. It was magnificent.
Article very interesting and the lights are amazing. Observing from a different point of view and reading about the colors is another world. I'm "Color Blind" or a better definition "Color Deficient". I'm Red-Green deficient. I see colors, but don't concentrate or take note of them, just enjoy the beautiful dancing displays.
There are glasses selling for $300+ to somewhat correct, I've seen sunsets with them and wow, so much color. I won't buy as I'll probably loose them. I'm use to my world. Seen sunsets in the great states of WY & MT and even without those glasses, the sunsets are spectacular.
Color deficiencies are passed down from mother to sons. In my family color deficiency is rampart. Red-Green is more common. I feel lucky though, on some island in the South Pacific there is a lot of in-breeding and the population can see only Black & White. I don't and never complained about it. Because of the deficiency, I've been excluded from some career fields and scored high on tests in the Air Force for Electronics and Missiles, state cop, but had to settle being with KC-135 & B-52's. Funny, I inspected many color coded wiring and ran engines with color coded marked dials. You learn to compromise. My AF friends were always asking me what color of cars were. To me rainbows have two colors, yellow and blue, yet they are beautiful. I've done a lot of color photography, different mediums produce different observations.
For a funny, If I made up the color charts, "normal" people would be color deficient. They have special charts (numbers or letters) to indicate if you have color problems. When I see some numbers, the medical person would say, "yup, you're color blind". I except my world and appreciate being here some 83 years.
I've noted OFA has other articles about Northern Lights. I've been to Alaska but in the warmer months. Would like to see the Northern's there. Webs sites have videos to watch them.
Having lived in NH my entire life, I'm happy to say I've seen the Aurora Borealis twice. The first time was while at an outdoor field party in 1971 or 72. Someone pointed over my head and said "The Northern Lights!" Well, as most of us had never seen them before, out came a compass, and indeed, the light show was due north. It danced and swayed for several minutes, in shades of blues and greens, like a rippling ocean in the sky. Again, around 1989. We had been told to expect the Northern Lights if the sky was clear, so we waited on the edge of a huge sandpit, facing north. Not late into the night, the show did not disappoint! This show more in reds and orange/yellow for the most part. Like the glow of a distant fire. Just awesome.
Watched for about 15 to 20 minutes. When I continued on my way I noticed a car following and speed past as I pulled in my driveway. About 20 minutes later there was a knock on my door. County Sheriffs Department wanting to know what I was doing parked on the road. Turns out I had stopped by a house (unbeknownst to me) that had been burglarized a couple of nights before that and they thought I was the burglar coming back. Won't forget that for awhile. LOL
Decades ago, my nephew called at 4am, and said "Don't say anything. Just go outside". so I did. There were RED lights right to the ground. I danced in the northern lights! Nothing that spectacular has ever happened since!
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