1 of 29
Warm Clothing for Alaska
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
In April 2012, SPACE.com reporter Mike Wall joined a team of scientists searching for auroras in the chilly reaches of Alaska. Join Mike on his trip with this photo journal, which begins - like all trips - with some packing. Mike Wall: I broke out the warm clothes for my trip to Fairbanks, but the Great White North isn't throwing any blizzards my way. Daytime temperatures have climbed into the mid-40s Fahrenheit during my stay. [See our
complete coverage of Mike's journey.]
2 of 29
Northern Lights Over Alaska: Project Aether
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
The aurora dances high in the sky over Murphy Dome, Alaska, early in the morning on April 11, 2012.
3 of 29
Northern Lights Over Alaska: Project Aether
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
The northern lights blaze in the Alaskan sky in the early morning hours of April 11, 2012, trumping the city lights of nearby Fairbanks (at right).
4 of 29
Yukon Mountains Seen from the Air
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
The snow-covered mountains of Canada's Yukon Territory, as seen during the flight from Seattle to Fairbanks.
5 of 29
Fairbanks from Above
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
A look at Fairbanks from above.
6 of 29
Polar Bear Pelt on a Wall
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Taxidermists must do a brisk business in Fairbanks. There is no shortage of mounted trophy animals, antlers and pelts, such as this polar bear skin, which hangs in the lobby of my hotel.
7 of 29
Sunset in Fairbanks, Alaska
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Sunset in Fairbanks, at around 9:15 p.m. local time.
8 of 29
Field Headquarters of Project Aether: Aurora
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
This house about 10 minutes outside of Fairbanks served as headquarters for the Project Aether: Aurora team.
9 of 29
Snowshoes and Helium Tanks
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Some tools of the expedition's trade: snowshoes and helium tanks.
10 of 29
Project Aether Rock Carving
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
The aurora expedition made a lasting impression, carving its name into a rock wall near the rented house.
11 of 29
Mike Wall on Location in Alaska
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
SPACE.com reporter Mike Wall stands near a possible balloon launch site; Alaska's White Mountains loom in the distance.
12 of 29
SPACE.com T-Shirt for Balloon Payload
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Project Aether: Aurora leader Ben Longmier holds up a SPACE.com T-shirt that rose to the edge of the Alaskan aurora in a weather balloon on April 11, 2012.
13 of 29
Project Aether Preparation
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Project Aether: Aurora chief Ben Longmier (left) studies the location of a landed balloon payload while other team members prepare payloads for a launch.
14 of 29
Flags and GPS Balloon Payload
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
A balloon payload "lunchbox" that carried a GPS tracking device and several small American flags nearly 20 miles into the Alaskan sky. Project Aether: Aurora will send these flags to schools for free.
15 of 29
SPACE.com T-Shirt on the Balloon Rig
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
A SPACE.com T-shirt made its way onto the rig that was launched toward the Alaskan aurora on April 11, 2012.
16 of 29
SPACE.com Reporter Mike Wall with Alaska's Northern Lights
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
Alaska's northern lights dance behind SPACE.com reporter Mike Wall in this photo taken April 11, 2012, on the slopes of Murphy Dome mountain.
17 of 29
Weather Balloon Inflation
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Team members fill the weather balloon with helium early in the morning of April 11, 2012, most of the way up Alaska's Murphy Dome mountain.
18 of 29
Ben Longmier Holds Balloon Equipment
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Project Aether: Aurora leader Ben Longmier is set to send the weather balloon — which bore multiple cameras, small American flags and a SPACE.com T-shirt — to the edge of Alaska's northern lights display on April 11, 2012.[See our
complete coverage of SPACE.com reporter Mike Wall's Alaska journey.]
19 of 29
Retrieving a Balloon That Kissed the Alaskan Aurora
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Project Aether: Aurora leader Ben Longmier stands with a weather balloon payload recovered April 11, 2012, after a snowshoe trek through the Alaska backcountry.
20 of 29
Alaska Backcountry Snowshoe Trek
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Golden light fills the Alaskan air on April 11, 2012, as the sun sinks low in the sky and a snowshoe trek to recover a balloon payload nears its end.
21 of 29
Alaska Aurora Dances on April 12, 2012
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
The aurora as seen from atop Murphy Dome mountain near Fairbanks in the early morning of April 12, 2012.
22 of 29
Preparing to Launch a Balloon into Alaska's Aurora
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
Researchers prepare to launch an instrument-laden weather balloon toward Alaska's aurora on April 12, 2012 (at right is a radar facility).
23 of 29
Weather Balloon Rising into Alaska's Aurora
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
An instrument-laden weather balloon rises toward the northern lights atop Alaska's Murphy Dome mountain in the early morning hours of April 12, 2012.
24 of 29
Alaska's Northern Lights Above a Radar Dome
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
The northern lights dance above a radar facility at top of Murphy Dome mountain on April 12, 2012.
25 of 29
Alaska's Aurora Blazes Above the Snow
Credit: Luke Kilpatrick
The northern lights flicker above Alaska's Murphy Dome mountain on April 12, 2012.
26 of 29
Sled Dogs at the Ready
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
A team of sled dogs waits impatiently for the chance to go tearing off into the Alaskan backcountry on April 11, 2012.
27 of 29
Sled Dogs Take Off
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
A sled pulls out into a snowy plain about 40 minutes outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, on April 11, 2012.
28 of 29
Ol' Blue Eyes
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
Dogs relaxing after their run on April 11, 2012.
29 of 29
Sled Dog Under a Car
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
An Alaska sled dog taking shelter under a truck after finishing a run on April 11, 2012. The day was unseasonably warm, with highs around 50 degrees Fahrenheit; the dogs are used to running at much colder temperatures.
