Aurora: Observing and Recording Nature's Spectacular Light Show

ISBN-13: 9780387360522 / Angielski / Miękka / 2007 / 183 str.

Neil Bone

Opis

For the majority of amateur astronomers, who live at the latitudes of North America, the British Isles and Australia, the aurora is a relatively infrequent visitor to the night sky. Major displays visible to the southern United States or the south of England occur perhaps 20 times in each 11-year sunspot cycle. When they occur, such auroral storms are a source of great interest and excitement. A number of books highlighting the impact of auroral/geomagnetic storms on communications and satellite technology have appeared in recent years . None, however, has addressed the observational angle. This new book addresses a gap in the literature, offering an explanation of the aurora's causes, how the occurrence of major events may now be predicted, and how amateur observers can go about recording displays. Observation of the more frequent displays seen at higher latitudes (the northern US, Canada, and Scotland, for example) are also covered in detail. Visual and photographic (chemical and digital) observations are most usual, but magnetic and radio recording of auroral effects is possible too. While the principal aim of the book is to describe the aurora from the amateur observational viewpoint, it discusses professional studies of auroral/geomagnetic phenomena, to put amateur work in context. A glossary gives concise explanations of necessary technical terms, and there is also a short bibliography.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"It's a common misconception that the aurora can only be seen from very high latitudes. ... In all, this is a highly readable account that's profusely illustrated throughout and boasts a selective bibliography, a list of web sources and a glossary of technical terms. It's a must for everyone eager to watch for aurora when the next solar peak comes around." (David Gavine, BBC Sky at Night, November, 2007)

"The solar wind and its interaction with the Earth's magnetic field is a key to understanding how auroral activity arises. This is well illustrated by clear diagrams, tables and excellent photographs of the auroral oval. ... This book can be thoroughly recommended to anyone who observes the aurora or has ever been intrigued and curious about the northern lights." (Ken Kennedy, Astronomy Now, December, 2007)

"While it might seem odd to us who live in northern climes and often experience the aurora borealis on a nighty basis, some people travel thousand of miles with the hope of seeing these beautiful and colorful celestial lights. ... for those keen to discover the science behind the aurora, Bone's book is a must." (Paul Deans, Sky & Telescope, February, 2008)

"The aurora borealis and the aurora australis are striking if mystifying spectacles in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively. ... They are complex phenomena but their intricacies and causes are well described in this new book. Author Bone avoids mathematics but has filled his book with lovely color photographs of aurorae, north and south. ... Suitable for undergraduate and graduate students and an occasional high school student as well. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (A. R. Upgren, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (5), January, 2008)

"This small book presents in greater depth a very readable account of the origins of the aurora with a concise explanation of the solar physics that drives sunspot activity and the related geomagnetic activity at the Earth. ... I recommend anyone who is curious about the origins of the aurora to dip into this monograph ... . In addition, amateur astronomers should enjoy the chapter about aurora on other planets ... ." (John I. B. Wilson, Contemporary Physics, Vol. 50 (4), July-August, 2009)

Spis treści

Atmospheric Phenomena.- Causes of the Aurora.- Auroral Forecasting.- Observing the Aurora.- Historical Aurorae and More Recent Events.- Aurora Elsewhere.- Early observers and theorists of the aurora classed it along with other atmospheric phenomena as a “meteor.” In common with many of his other ideas that remained unchallenged until well into the sixteenth century, Aristotle’s fourth century BC view of these events being the result of ignition of rising vapors belowthe innermost celestial sphere prevailed for some time. An alternative, proposed by the Roman philosopher Seneca in his Questiones Naturales, was that aurorae were flames viewed through chasmata—cracks in the heavenly firmament..- Noctilucent Clouds and other Phenomena.

O autorze

Neil Bone is the author of Deep Sky Observer's Guide, Philip's/Firefly (2004); Mars Observer's Guide, Philip's/Firefly (2003); Guide to the Constellations, Astronomy Now/Polestar (2002); Observing Meteors, Comets, Supernovae and other Transient Phenomena, Springer (1998); Observer's Handbook: Meteors Philip's/Sky (1993); The Aurora: Sun-Earth Interactions, Ellis Horwood (1991), Second Edition Wiley/Praxis (1996), as well as numerous articles and papers.

Blurb

The uniquely beautiful light display of an aurora is the result of charged particles colliding with tenuous atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen, more than 60 miles above the Earth, when the magnetosphere is disturbed by changes in the solar wind.

Often - and incorrectly - regarded as being confined to high northern and southern latitudes, major auroral displays are visible from even the southern USA and the south of England, and occur perhaps twenty times in each eleven-year sunspot cycle.

Major auroral storms always cause great interest and excitement in the media, and of course provide practical astronomers with the opportunity to study and image them.

This book describes the aurora from the amateur observational viewpoint, discusses professional studies of auroral and geomagnetic phenomena to put amateur work in context, and explains how practical observers can go about observing and recording auroral displays.