@article {667, title = {Amateur Radio: An Integral Tool for Atmospheric, Ionospheric, and Space Physics Research and Operations}, journal = {White Paper Submitted to the National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033}, year = {2022}, author = {Nathaniel A. Frissell and Laura Brandt and Stephen A. Cerwin and Kristina V. Collins and David Kazdan and John Gibbons and William D. Engelke and Rachel M. Frissell and Robert B. Gerzoff and Stephen R. Kaeppler and Vincent Ledvina and William Liles and Michael Lombardi and Elizabeth MacDonald and Francesca Di Mare and Ethan S. Miller and Gareth W. Perry and Jonathan D. Rizzo and Diego F. Sanchez and H. Lawrence Serra and H. Ward Silver and David R. Themens and Mary Lou West} } @article {670, title = {Fostering Collaborations with the Amateur Radio Community}, journal = {White Paper Submitted to the National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033}, year = {2022}, author = {Nathaniel A. Frissell and Laura Brandt and Stephen A. Cerwin and Kristina V. Collins and Timothy J. Duffy and David Kazdan and John Gibbons and William D. Engelke and Rachel M. Frissell and Robert B. Gerzoff and Stephen R. Kaeppler and Vincent Ledvina and William Liles and Elizabeth MacDonald and Gareth W. Perry and Jonathan D. Rizzo and Diego F. Sanchez and H. Lawrence Serra and H. Ward Silver and Tamitha Mulligan Skov and Mary Lou West} } @proceedings {614, title = {The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera (NoDDAC), A Student-led Citizen Science Project: Data Showcase, Future Developments, and Scientific Potential}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, publisher = {HamSCI}, address = {Huntsville, AL}, abstract = {

The North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera (NoDDAC) is a student-led project in collaboration with the University of North Dakota (UND), Live Aurora Network, and Aurorasaurus. Aurora cameras provide ground-truth visual data to aurora chasers and scientists, but are sparse at midlatitudes. Deploying a light-sensitive video camera and allsky still camera in these areas provides a valuable resource to aurora-chasing communities, including ham radio operators in the auroral zone, and demonstrates scientific merit. For example, the analysis of rare phenomena benefits from observations at multiple locations. In addition, NoDDAC data can be correlated with radio and ionospheric propagation changes, as well as geomagnetic activity, to investigate the connection between optical aurora and radio science. This project is unique; utilizing dual cameras with COTS equipment, emphasizing open data as a responsive community resource, and promoting citizen science make it an accessible resource benefing multiple audiences. Since early 2021, NoDDAC has detected aurora on more than 20 occasions, as well as unusual events like overhead auroras, STEVEs, and noctilucent clouds.\ 

NoDDAC is stationed at Martens Observatory (48.1{\textdegree}N), which is operated by the UND Department of Physics and Astrophysics. Live Aurora Network housings weatherproof both cameras, and their proprietary IPTimelapse software uploads images to a web server for analysis. The north-facing camera records video, allowing Zooniverse-style citizen science for small auroral features. Live Aurora Network streams both cameras on their website and app. Ultimately, when aurora is detected IPTimelapse will post a clip of the display to @NODDAC_cameras on Twitter. Automated reports will be mapped on Aurorasaurus, alongside citizen scientist observations. Image data are archived according to open source and FAIR data principles. NoDDAC will also look for crossovers with projects such as the Personal Space Weather Station to provide additional ground-based measurements of the space environment. This presentation will reflect on the data captured with NoDDAC and outline a timeline for its future, and open the floor for collaborations with other citizen science efforts.

}, author = {Vincent Ledvina and Elizabeth MacDonald and Laura Brandt and Michael McCormack and Steve Collins and Wayne Barkhouse and Timothy Young} } @conference {398, title = {Construction of an Aurora Camera in North Dakota to Aid in Citizen Science and Space Weather Applications (ePoster)}, booktitle = {HamSCI Workshop 2020}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {HamSCI}, organization = {HamSCI}, address = {Scranton, PA}, abstract = {

We will present plans for a new student-built aurora camera integrated with a public university, local astronomy groups, and Aurorasaurus citizen science. Live aurora cameras are crucial tools for avid skywatchers, aurora chasers, and scientists.\ \ Globally there are hundreds of cameras providing nowcast views of aurora strength, yet in low-latitude areas, especially in the United States, the number of high-quality, live aurora cameras is extremely limited.\ \ The need for aurora camera coverage in mid-latitudes is apparent; not only will it be another resource for amateur astronomers and aurora-watching communities, but the analysis of many transient auroral phenomena such as substorms and STEVEs benefit from multiple geographical observations.\ \ A north-facing camera will be built near Inkster, North Dakota, on the Martens Observatory location (approximately 48.1oN), broadcasting a public live stream of the night sky while simultaneously offloading images to a storage server.\ \ The Sony a7s2 mirrorless camera, a model employed by other live broadcasts such as the LiveAuroraNetwork, will be used in conjunction with a wide-aperture lens for maximum light-gathering ability.\ \  The entire apparatus will be housed in a weatherproof enclosure and internet will be supplied on-site.\ \ The camera will be integrated with the University of North Dakota{\textquoteright}s Astrophysics and Space Studies department and will be a resource for the local astronomy community, the Northern Sky Astronomical Society.\ \ Working with Aurorasaurus, the aurora camera will {\textquotedblleft}tweet{\textquotedblright} when an aurora is spotted and be shown on the Aurorasaurus auroral oval map along with other citizen scientist observations.\ \ This aurora camera will be a valuable resource for citizen science and will aid scientists in attempting to unravel the mysteries of Earth{\textquoteright}s magnetism.

}, author = {Vincent Ledvina and Elizabeth MacDonald and Wayne Barkhouse and Timothy Young} }