Re: Auroras

[John W Roberts <roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 23:35:43 -0600
>From: wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Bob Wier)
>Subject: Re: Comet Hyakutake

>Considering how weak the aurora is supposed to be, it didn't seem possible
>that the pictures I'd seen were real time. But I caught some VIDEO which
>was taken with one of the very fast CCD telescope modules, and someone
>on sci.astronomy said yes, that the aurora moved very fast and has a 
>noticible short term flicker. Couldn't prove it by me, though :-) 
>However, you could see the stars shining thru the aurora, and they
>weren't noticibly trailed so it would argue for short exposures...Again,

Thanks - that's my most solid lead to date. Changing that fast would imply
some sort of high-speed positive feedback mechanism among the incoming 
particles, the Earth's magnetic field, and the plasma. I know there's a
tremendous amount of energy involved.

It sounds like some sort of electronic synchronization would be needed for
hyperstereo. (And the conditions that create auroras are not conducive to 
electronic communications.)

John R


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