Posted by Jim Salge on December 14, 2006 at 5:50 AM
I've been anxiously awaiting for days to see if the last BIG solar flair would trigger an aurora storm, and it's set to arrive tonight. It was the biggest flair since 2003, and the aururas were visible down to the carolinas and colorado then...so we'll see tonight!
From Spaceweather.com
AURORA ALERT: Sky watchers everywhere should be alert for auroras on Dec. 14th. That's when a coronal mass ejection (CME) hurled into space by yesterday's X3-flare is expected to hit. NOAA forecasters estimate a 55% chance of severe geomagnetic storms.
Solar activity is expected to remain high for days. Sunspot 930, the source of the incoming CME, has an unstable "delta-class" magnetic field that harbors energy for more X-flares. Stay tuned.
Other links:
http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/
Posted by Alice Scoggins on December 14, 2006 at 7:23 AM
To the Carolinas?? Would one have to be up in the mountains to see it?
Posted by Jack Graham on December 14, 2006 at 7:31 AM
Damn clouds & rain predicted here in OH this evening----what else is new---I guess it could be snow, but that would be OK with me.--JG
Posted by Steve Foss on December 14, 2006 at 8:38 AM
Solid clouds here all week, too. Figures.
Alice, the less atmosphere between you and the aurora the clearer the view. I also want to be out of town when I'm viewing/shooting, because there's lots of ambient light even in small towns at night.
Posted by Jim Salge on December 14, 2006 at 6:53 PM
Just a heads up...it's going to be good if it's clear near you...
Currently seeing aurora over Northern New Hampshire...
Nuthin but rain here, too. Probably until April.
Sandy - Oregon
Posted by Steve Foss on December 15, 2006 at 7:09 AM
Looks like the northern portions of the U.S. and corresponding countries can look for another shot tonight, according to the forecaster I've been getting e-mails from.
Discussion
6 repliesFrom Spaceweather.com
AURORA ALERT: Sky watchers everywhere should be alert for auroras on Dec. 14th. That's when a coronal mass ejection (CME) hurled into space by yesterday's X3-flare is expected to hit. NOAA forecasters estimate a 55% chance of severe geomagnetic storms.
Solar activity is expected to remain high for days. Sunspot 930, the source of the incoming CME, has an unstable "delta-class" magnetic field that harbors energy for more X-flares. Stay tuned.
Other links:
http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/
Alice, the less atmosphere between you and the aurora the clearer the view. I also want to be out of town when I'm viewing/shooting, because there's lots of ambient light even in small towns at night.
Currently seeing aurora over Northern New Hampshire...
Sandy - Oregon