Pretty good show. Thanks, RonBoyd for the reminder.
My memory is of being in the north Atlantic around 72 degrees north latitude near Jan Mayen volcanic Island in the early seventies. On the research ship trying to make radio contact with NY, and hearing absolute silence on the short wave radio receiver. Cranking the RF and audio gain fully up, still nothing but a faint hiss in the headphones. Running tests showed radio receiver and transmitter were working fine, went up on deck to check the antenna.
Saw the most beautiful light show ever. I recall a lot more colors than the video, more purple, violets and reds. It was truly jaw dropping. Lasted a few hours. Forgot all about the radio contact.
The ionized upper atmosphere prevented any short wave radio comms. Later rousted sparky (the ship's radio officer), he was able to make contact in the long wave band around 100 Khz, slow morse code. VLF also worked, but was not interested in contacting submarines.
Had similar experience, many years later, in the northern parts of the Bering sea on a different trip out of St Paul island.
Another one of those memories for grins when I'm too old to do anything else for grins.
