Ghost in the dawn (Abisko)

The webcam in Abisko is finally online and this is the timelapse about the night between 16/17 of November...enjoy :D!

Timelapse



Aurora over Abisko 16-17 November 2012 from Davide Ferretti on Vimeo.

Aurora webcam (Ita)

L'inverno 2012/2013 si preannuncia particolarmente spettacolare per gli amanti delle aurore boreali in quanto l'attività solare dovrebbe raggiungere il suo picco, regalando onde di luce nei cieli più settentrionali e meridionali del pianeta.
Chi non potrà vederle dal vivo può sempre "accontentarsi" di internet. Esistono diverse webcam sparse in giro per l'emisfero boreale da cui si può ammirare questo fenomeno. Quelle che di seguito riporto sono, a mio modo di vedere, le migliori:

Alaska (http://allsky.gi.alaska.edu/)
Questa webcam è posizionata vicino a Fairbanks, Alaska.
Visibilità: mattina presto - primo pomeriggio (con il cambio delle stagioni questi orari mutano)

Canada (http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/auroramax/hd-480.asp)
Questa webcam è posizionata a Yellowknife, Canada
Visibilità: mattina presto - primo pomeriggio (con il cambio delle stagioni questi orari mutano)

Tromsø (http://polaris.nipr.ac.jp/~acaurora/aurora/Tromso/)
Questa webcam è posizionata a Tromso, Norvegia
Visibilità: tardo pomeriggio - notte (con il cambio delle stagioni questi orari mutano)

Svezia - Kiruna (http://www.irf.se/allsky/rtasc.php)
Questa webcam è posizionata a Kiruna, Svezia
Visibilità: tardo pomeriggio - notte (con il cambio delle stagioni questi orari mutano)

Svezia - Jokkmokk (http://uk.jokkmokk.jp/)
Queste sono una serie di webcam posizionate a Jokkmokk, Svezia
Visibilità: tardo pomeriggio - notte (con il cambio delle stagioni questi orari mutano)

Svezia - Abisko (http://www.auroraskystation.com/live-camera/9/)
Questa webcam è posizionata ad Abisko, Svezia. Purtroppo è da diverso tempo che è offline ma appena verrà sistemato l'inconveniente, consiglio di tenerla d'occhio perchè è posizionata in uno dei posti migliori del pianeta da dove osservare le Aurore Boreali.
A questo link si può vedere uno dei timelapse che ho fatto utilizzando le immagini di questa webcam

Aurora over Abisko 15-16 February 2012

Visibilità: tardo pomeriggio - notte (con il cambio delle stagioni questi orari mutano)

Islanda (http://live.mila.is/english/jokulsarlon/)
Una serie di webcam posizionate in Islanda. Da qui è mediamente più difficile osservare le aurore in quanto viene fatto un filmato in tempo reale e di notte la qualità non è eccelsa. In ogni caso, durante la luna piena è possibile osservare l'aurora. Le migliori sono quelle posizionate sulla laguna ghiacciata di Jökulsárlón e sul vulcano Hekla. Consiglio di dare un'occhiata anche alle altre.
Visibilità: tardo pomeriggio - notte (con il cambio delle stagioni questi orari mutano)

A causa delle condizioni climatiche estreme può capitare che le webcam non sempre funzionino: temperature particolarmente rigide, vento, tempeste di neve e inconvenienti di natura tecnica, possono disattivare temporaneamente questi strumenti.

Un altro paio di siti utili sono quelli inerenti la previsione dell'andamento del disco di accrescmento boreale:

Aurora forecast (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast)

Ovation Auroral Forecast (http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/)

Due siti che ritengo essere complementari per seguire l'andamento di questo evento.
Personalmente seguo anche un'altro sito

SolarHam (http://www.solarham.net/)

nel quale vengono riportati diversi dati inerenti il vento solare con la sua consistenza e velocità, il campo magnetico e l'attività dello stesso, l'attività dei raggi X e altri dati ancora. Probabilmente per un normale utente può essere di non facile lettura visto che alcuni dati devono essere interpretati ma esiste un glossario all'interno del sito dove vengono spiegati i vari indicatori.

Lo spettacolo delle aurore boreali/australi è unico al mondo. Durante il mio viaggio in Islanda nel 2011 ho avuto modo di vederle e sono rimasto senza parole, senza fiato: vedere onde di luce che serpeggiano, scendono dal cielo immerse nella volta celeste più bella che abbia mai visto, è stata un'esperienza incredibile. Vedere il cielo cominciare improvvisamente a pulsare di toni verdi-violace, la danza della luce sopra lo Snæfellsjökull o le Goðafoss, il riflesso sugli iceberg nella baia di Jökulsárlón sono state una delle esperienze più forti che abbia mai vissuto.

Ancora oggi non riesco a capacitarmi di quell'esperienza che mi ha segnato nel profondo.e sovente mi capita di sognare quelle lame di luce. Sono sensazioni forti, sensazioni che riescono a darti una dimensione precisa del tuo essere rispetto a questa terra e che accrescono uno stupore che va oltre la propria comprensione. Sembra quasi di sentire un ruggito profondo salire da posti che ignoravamo di conoscere nella nostra anima e aspettava solo di essere liberato nel silenzio della notte.

Questo è il link alle fotografie che ho scattato alle aurore boreali nel 2011

Northern lights

Aurora webcam (English)

The winter 2012/2013 is expected to be particularly spectacular for lovers of the aurora borealis beacouse the solar activity is expected to reach its maximum strenght, giving light waves in the skies over northern and southern parts of the planet.Who can not see them live can always use Internet to overcome the problem. There are several webcams scattered around the northern hemisphere from which you can admire this phenomenon. Those that I report are, in my opinion, the best:

Alaska (http://allsky.gi.alaska.edu/) 
This webcam is located near Fairbanks, Alaska. 
Visibility: early in the morning - early afternoon (with the change of seasons these changing times)

Canada (http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/auroramax/hd-480.asp)
This webcam is located in Yellowknife, Canada 
Visibility: early in the morning - early afternoon (with the change of seasons these changing times)

Tromsø (http://polaris.nipr.ac.jp/~acaurora/aurora/Tromso/) 
This webcam is located in Tromso, Norway 
Visibility: late afternoon - night (with the change of seasons these changing times)

Sweden - Kiruna (http://www.irf.se/allsky/rtasc.php)
This webcam is located in Kiruna, Sweden 
Visibility: late afternoon - night (with the change of seasons these changing times)

Sweden - Jokkmokk (http://uk.jokkmokk.jp/) 
These are a series of webcam positioned in Jokkmokk, Sweden 
Visibility: late afternoon - night (with the change of seasons these changing times)

Sweden - Abisko (http://www.auroraskystation.com/live-camera/9/) 
Unfortunately, it is some time that is offline, but will be fixed as soon as possible the problem, I suggest you to keep an eye because it is located in one of the best places on the planet from you can observe the Northern Lights.

At this link you can see one of the timelapse that i made using the images of this webcam

Aurora over Abisko 15-16 February 2012
  
Visibility: late afternoon - night (with the change of seasons these changing times) 
  
Iceland (http://live.mila.is/english/jokulsarlon/) 
A series of webcam positioned in Iceland. From here it is generally more difficult to observe the aurora because a movie is done in real time and at night the quality is excellent. The best are located on the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón and the volcano Hekla. Recommend taking a look to the other.
Visibility: late afternoon - night (with the change of seasons these changing times)

Due to the extreme weather conditions it can happen that the webcam does not always work: extremely cold temperatures, wind, snow storms and technical problem, can temporarily disable these tools.

Another helpful sites are linked to the forecast of boreal enhancement disk:

Aurora forecast (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast) 

Ovation Auroral Forecast (http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/)

Two sites that I consider complementary to follow the progress of this event.
 
Personally I follow also another site

SolarHam (http://www.solarham.net/)

in which are shown several data concerning the solar wind with its consistency and speed, the magnetic field and the activity of the same, the activity of X-rays and other data yet. Probably for a normal user can not easily be read and some data should be interpreted, but there is a glossary in the site will explain the various indicators.

The spectacle of the Northern Lights / Southern is unique in the world. During my trip to Iceland in 2011 I see them and I was speechless, breathless: see light waves snaking, come down from stars immersed in the most beaoutiful sky that I've ever seen, it was an incredible experience. See the sky suddenly begin to pulse-tone green violace, the dance of light above the Snæfellsjökull or Goðafoss, the reflection on icebergs in the bay of Jökulsárlón have been one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had.

Even today I can not comprehend that experience that marked me in deeply and I often dream those beams of light. There are strong feelings, feelings that can give you a precise size of your person in relation to this land and that increase a sense of wonder that is beyond their understanding. Almost hear a deep roar go up from places we ignored to know in our soul and just waiting to be released in the silence of the night.

This is the link to the photos I took in 2011 to the Northern Lights
Northern lights

Lost in Iceland - 2012

Ho finito il set con le foto del viaggio in Islanda di quest'anno, un'altra bellissima esperienza, un'avventura che consiglio a tutti di provare :D

I finished the set with photos of my trip in Iceland, another wonderful experience, an adventure that I recommend to everyone :D

LOST IN ICELAND - PHOTO

Back from Iceland (2012)

Mi sveglio di soprassalto nella notte e non riesco a capire bene dove sono. La luce della luna filtra dalla finestra attraverso le tende, occorrono parecchi minuti per realizzare che quello che avevo appena vissuto era solo un sogno: la mente confonde le ombre e gli spigoli con le forme aguzze dei fiordi islandesi. Le pale del ventilatore ruotano velocemente e l'aria fredda mi sveglia per un momento, mi siedo per riprendermi. Ho negli occhi le immagini di quei posti, di quei momenti, un sogno più vivo della realtà, la percezione di spazi talmente vasti che nessun orizzonte può imprigionare

Ripartiamo da dove avevo finito, dalla strada.

Welcome home, son

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wake up suddenly in the night and I cannot understand where I am. The moonlight filtered through the curtains of the window, i take several minutes to realize that what I had just experienced was only a dream: the mind confuses the shadows and corners with sharp forms of the icelandic fjords. The fan blades rotate quickly and the cold air wakes me up for a moment, I sit down to recover. In my eyes the images of those places, of those moments, a dream deepest then the reality, the perception of space so vast that no one horizon can imprison

I start from where I had come, from the street.

Welcome home, son

Qui voit Ouessant voit son sang (English version)

Thanks to Giorgia Bariani for the translation

"The strength of the waves that break against the rocks can be compared to the rage of a man seeking peace” 

Ouessant...Years ago, my first approach to this patch of earth was not a happy experience due to my poor health conditions. But even at that time, it was love at first sight: the coarse-grained rocks that sink into the deep sea, the fury of the wind that keeps you awake at night and the light of the most powerful lighthouses in Europe to lighten your nights. The naturalistic approach to Ouessant is not the only reason why I love this place so intensely: it’s the atmosphere you breathe everywhere, it’s its being a frontier place and a shelter at the same time, as well as a mortal trap for many unlucky people in the past centuries. Although some of the most violent storms on Earth rage across this area, I can say that, here, I found a peace of mind I have seldom experienced in other places - despite the fact that this place might seem a contradiction to all that. Besides, how can you ask for peace when the winds blow at more than 120 km/h and the waves might reach a height of 15 m? And yet, in all this fury, you can feel a sense of detachment that is otherwise rarely felt..

"If you can’t find your peace here, you won’t find it in any other place".

Ouessant the shield, Ouessant the last barrier before the open ocean, the last obstacle before the big jump into a desert of salty water and wind. Its waves high as buildings and its impetuous winds can turn this island into sheer hell. And it was really hell for me…For years, I’ve always wanted to feel and experience the rage that savages you, I wanted to see the waves that towers over you with their strength, I wanted to live this violent dream. All this turned real. I was astonished and euphoric every time a wave was moving towards me and broke on the seashore. It was pure bliss and I kept waiting for an even bigger and stronger wave.  When the skyline is no longer visible and is just a series of foamy crests, the joy and happiness took the better of me and I forgot the salty squirts that the wind “gently” blew against my skin :)

Being in the middle of a storm triggered such a deep and totalizing excitement in me that I kept dreaming of these waves during the entire night. The same thing happened to me when I was in Iceland where I had seen the Northern Lights and I kept dreaming of them in the following nights.

"The path of light"

A special wish was dear to my heart over many others: seeing the sky of Ouessant again. Here, in Ouessant, it’s difficult to enjoy the sight of a starry night due to the fog that embraces the entire island. But I was lucky. Stars shone above the King of Kings, the Creac'h, the most powerful lighthouse in Europe. Its light beams reaching the skyline and beyond is a unique landscape among the most breath-taking on Earth

The scent of the storm on the cliff was as strong as the light that tried to push its way through the clouds to dive into the abyss to seek peace. 

However, despite its strength, there are moments when even the King has to bend to a valorous adversary. The King’s voice sounds like a moan: the fog is fighting to conquer the island.
Obviously, this is not reality, but when the visibility is reduced to a few miles, the lighthouse produces an acoustic signal to warn the ships of the nearing coast. Unfortunately, Ouessant is notorious for being the place where some of the most tragic shipwrecks have occurred.

"The sweetness in the fury"

A small wish of mine – that cannot be fulfilled – is to challenge the fury of this environment: however, I know that this is not fury, but just how Nature expresses itself in this part of the world.  In this rage, I found glimpses of Ouessant to preserve deep in my memory, such as, for example, when the wind blew the waves upwards towards the sky and the seawater drops drifted for a minute through the air in the storm,

or when the ocean’s strength seemed to swallow the Jument Lighthouse.

Nividic is the last barrier between the humankind and his dreams. Waves broke against the lighthouse, they seemed to submerge it, but, in the end, they failed, and moved back just to break against the lighthouse again, stronger than ever. 

 

"The last gleams of light"

Finally, after fighting so hard, the very last gleam of light gently offers us a sweet picture of the moment.

         

It’s in these moments that you finally make peace with Ouessant and with yourself. Ouessant is like a living entity. Being on this island it’s like taking its soul by the hand again, welcoming and hugging each other again to see each other again who knows when. During all the time I spent on Ouessant, not a single moment of incomprehension or confusion ever happened: I simply learnt to accept Ouessant for what it is. Ouessant showed me a side of its personality I didn’t know and I fell in love with it even more strongly because this was what I wanted. It’s true, Ouessant is difficult, it scrutinizes you with mistrust, and I know that it can offer us both good and bad experiences, that, however, will always remain unforgettable moments.

You will seek its peace again and you will look forward to visiting it again to see its skies, to dream of its waves, and to hear its voice murmuring sweet words into your ears..
...and when you are back, you will clearly hear Ouessant moving towards you to welcome you again. Without even turning yourself, you will give your hand to Ouessant and it will take you by the hand to show you its skyline, where your dreams and the sea are reunited again…...

Kenavo ma bro, prometet douar

Ouessant 2011-2012
Travel with Stefano Cuccolini (website / pictures) and Francesco Mariani (website / pictures)

Mostra d'arte "Percorsi" e "I legami (01 - 30 settembre 2012)

Dal 1 al 30 settembre 2012  presso la Torre dell'Orologio di San Polo d'Enza, si terrà la mostra d'arte "Percorsi" a cura di Irene Canovi (galleria fotografica) e "I legami" a cura di Mila Montanari