AntarcticDoctor

Yep, the aurora is back, and despite an icy wind we got some pictures. For the first time, it was visible all around the horizon. I’ll let the photograph speak for itself.

I’m not a superstitious person, or overly religious, but the longer I live the more I begin to believe in serendipity. Today is auspicious for many reasons – it is Good Friday to Christians, falling this year on South Africa’s Human Rights Day, and it is particularly special to us in Antarctica as it is the autumn equinox – a milestone in our year on the ice.   This equinox coincides with a beautiful full moon, and we have been further blessed by open skies and no wind.  Imagine out joy, then when the final gift arrived – a lovely aurora.  This one formed several bands over the south-eastern horizon, and was remarkably active, with rapidly shifting green veils.  At times, a red hue was visible in the lower reaches.  The full moon certainly prevented us from seeing the full splendour of the aurora, but it highlighted the landscape – while the base basked in the cool light of the moon, we watched the glowing southern lights over our familiar southern peaks… serendipity indeed.