Northern Lights

Anyone know what time of night is likely to best? Too much light pollution here really but we once got a little glimpse here many years ago. The pics from Tan Hill and near Alnwick last night were amazing.
 
A lovely clear starry sky here in Cumbria, just back from driving over Shap summit on M6 but no sign of aurora :(
 
poes_latest240_europe.gif impulse_strip.jpg

CME hit Earth at 1500

Geomagnetic storms are likely in the hours ahead. If it's dark where you live, go outside and look for auroras.
 
Last edited:
CME IMPACT: As predicted by analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, a CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 24 at ~1500 UT (10 am EST). A geomagnetic storm is brewing in the aftermath of the impact, but as this alert is being written it is too soon to say how weak or strong the storm might be. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after local nightfall; the hours around local midnight are often best for seeing the Northern Lights. Chances for a good display favor observers in northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, and possibly northern tier US states such as Maine, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Check SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids for updates
 
Aurora

it was too far for me to travel up north to see the Aurora Borealis, so I thought I would nip down to Brighton to see if I could catch the Aurora Australis, strangely enough I didn't catch this either!!!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A geomagnetic storm caused by Monday's M9-class solar flare and Tuesday's CME impact is over. The aurora watch is cancelled for all but the highest latitudes around the Arctic Circle.

As expected, a CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 24th at approximately 1500 UT (10 am EST). The impact produced a G1-class geomagnetic storm and bright auroras around the Arctic Circle.

Even veteran aurora watchers were impressed. "This was one of the best Northern Lights displays that I've ever seen, and I mean ever in over 5000 hours on the ice," says Andy Keen of Inari, Finland. "It was, in short, truly spectacular and something that will live with me for a lifetime." In the Abisko National Park of Sweden, aurora tour guide Chad Blakely contributed a similar report: "Eight tourists and I were treated to one of the most wonderful displays I have ever seen. The auroras began as we were eating dinner and continued into the very early hours of the morning. Words can not describe the excitement we shared."

Aurora Borealis

maybe for us next time
 
Robmac said:
it was too far for me to travel up north to see the Aurora Borealis, so I thought I would nip down to Brighton to see if I could catch the Aurora Australis, strangely enough I didn't catch this either!!!
Click to expand...

You had just as much chance:lol-053::lol-053:
Cloudy here, and anyway most of the reports I have seen have been near the arctic circle some of the best are on spaceweather - like this set:

auroras

Suggest we give up on northern lights and wait till the time changes - adding an hour all year - and we will be able to show off the midnight sun in June:wave:
 
Just to recap:

....if anyone is interested in checking the relevant sites for updated information on solar flares and predicted Aurora displays (called Apparitions), then here are the links:


Space Weather News and Alerts SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids


3 Day Solar Forecast Latest SWPC 3-day Space Weather Forecast


Space Weather Prediction Centre NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center


Aurora Watch (and Alerts) Welcome to AuroraWatch UK
 
On the Spaceweather site:

More auroras could be in the offing. A solar wind stream is heading for Earth, due to arrive on Jan. 28-29. NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% chance of geomagnetic storms at high latitudes.

Another flare has also erupted from the same sunspot that flared on Monday however it was pointed away from the Earth, but there may be some of it reaching us...which is perhaps is the wind stream mentioned.
 
Viktor said:
On the Spaceweather site:

More auroras could be in the offing. A solar wind stream is heading for Earth, due to arrive on Jan. 28-29. NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% chance of geomagnetic storms at high latitudes.

Another flare has also erupted from the same sunspot that flared on Monday however it was pointed away from the Earth, but there may be some of it reaching us...which is perhaps is the wind stream mentioned.
Click to expand...

Thanks Viktor for the info ...be nice if the light could head to Wiltshire and put on a show for us over Stonehenge on the night of the 11/12th Feb........thats not too much to ask for is it ????:lol-053::lol-053::lol-053: .....but seriously will never give up my hope of seeing these lights in fact we are heading back to Norway next year I live in hope :bow::bow:in fact I think I am borderline obsessive about it. :scared:

Jac :wave:
 
Viktor said:
On the Spaceweather site:

More auroras could be in the offing. A solar wind stream is heading for Earth, due to arrive on Jan. 28-29. NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% chance of geomagnetic storms at high latitudes.

Another flare has also erupted from the same sunspot that flared on Monday however it was pointed away from the Earth, but there may be some of it reaching us...which is perhaps is the wind stream mentioned.
Click to expand...

Would be good to get some clear weather - any clear skies at the moment last only an hour or so then it is either rain or mist:sad:
 
I've been looking out each night for the past few nights but have seen nothing but a friend of mine who lives about 16 miles away not far from the Cumbria / Durham / N Yorkshire border said that she saw white lights in the sky last night (their farm is in the middle of nowhere so it wasn't light pollution). Apparently the N Lights could be seen well up at Tan Hill, about 20 miles away from me.

But there is a distinct climactic difference between where I live and where she lives (not far from Tan Hill) - quite often it is wet and miserable here but dry and clear at their place.

Will check again later but I think that being in the lee of the fells means that it would have to be quite spectacular and high in the sky for me to see it from home. I'm on a training course tomorrow and have to be up and out early otherwise I'd have been tempted to go and spend the night at Tan Hill :mad:
 
magbrin said:
Would be good to get some clear weather - any clear skies at the moment last only an hour or so then it is either rain or mist:sad:
Click to expand...

Ditto :mad2: It was snowing today when I drove from Shap to Kendal and the fells were dusted white when I got home. But it's more sleety than snowy :(
 
think I am borderline obsessive about it
Click to expand...

:ditto: now that I have the time to go Aurora Chasing.....perhaps we should organise a meet at Tan Hill?...the solar wind from the CMEs can take anywher from 18 hours (the record) to 4 days to reach the Earth, depending whether it is a big flare or wind from a Coronal hole, but the average is 2 days with a 7 - 8 hours margin of error.

I have the van ready for a 2 day Storm warning lol....I wonder could I make it up to Durness in North Scotland from Northern Ireland in time for the show??
 
Tan Hill meet would be good but I'm on Mother-visiting duty this weekend at Redcar although I could possibly call in at Tan Hill on the way home on Sun eve for a few hours. Happy travels wherever you decide to go.
 
Travel SOUTH to see the northern lights ....................... I'm not sure:hammer:
Durness would suit ME best - or why not Shetland:confused::confused:
Bad news .................. Snow forecast:mad:
Good news ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Snow forecast:lol-053: (better show IF sky clears)
 
why not Shetland
Click to expand...

Mmm...I think that might be just too far for me....it's a long drive to Durness and I wouldn't have a clue about sailings to Shetland, where to embark, or times of available sailings....I think I would have to go to Shetland with the intention of staying for at least a week, so the round trip would be a fortnight....big gamble to hope that a flare goes off that would be good enough to give a good display in time for me to get there, or hope one occurs while I'm there.....but it's a thought....would need a source of LPG in Shetland....wouldn't like to be using petrol continually too.

I'll consider it though if I can get more information about travelling and where to park up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top