STORM2K

Just noticed auroras in the northern Sky for the past half hour in northern Maryland. It's 7:15 PM EDT. I'm in the process of keeping an eye out for more auroras. This could be one of a few nights of auroras. Another CME is due to arrive tomorrow night courtesy of an X1 flare today from sunspot 696.

Everyone at high and mid latitudes be on the alert for auroras tonight and again tomorrow. This could last even longer.

Jim

The latest 3hr ap/K values are 154/7+ which means that faint aurbo could be seen right now (except for the clouds) in southern AZ and Southern CA. The Bz is still very strongly southward pointing so we could go up to K=8 or higher which would mean a strong display visible even in Tropical latitudes.

Steve

Absolutely Steve. Here in Maryland there was a pretty awesome display of auroras earlier tonight with a vivid greenish glow on the northern horizon. It could possibly come back again later tonite. We also have to look forward to tomorrow perhaps.

I'm looking at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/SWN and http://www.spaceweather.com for info, but I'm mostly looking at obs from outdoors. We haven't seen auroras here since 7:45 PM EST and it's 8:42 PM EST right now.

Jim

WOW!!!! AMAZING SHOW...never seen them like this...

The latest 3hr ap/K values are 400/9z which is as high as both go. Under these conditions anyone with clear skies in the US has a chance of seeing the aurora including those on the high peaks in Hawaii. With a storm this intense, auroral bursts can result in aurbo being visible in Tropical latitudes. We caught a brief clear patch to the NE before we got a thunderstorm and did see some aurbo though faintly.

Steve

Yep, it was very cool. When I first saw it the color was faint white and had wave-like pulsations. Then it became a big green difuse arc. Then off to the north, the aurora activity really picked up. There was aurora all over the place (not the entire sky, only to the West, Northwest, North, Northeast, and East). As I type this, I think the aurora will be at its peak. However, I have to go to bed. All well.

Same here in Maryland. I noticed a greenish glow with white wavy shades passing on by to our north. At times we would even see a vivid red glow overhead and to our northwest and northeast.

We just witnessed one of the longest duration aurora events I can ever remember here in north central Maryland. It was a 75 minute display of auroras from 10:45 PM until 12 AM. It had rested up, but could easily stay very active throughout the rest of the overnight period.

We also have another CME coming this way for tomorrow night, possibly meaning more vivid auroras to come.

Jim

When you factor in the probable CME from Sunday's X2 Proton Flare, we have the chance for aurbo through the 9th.

Steve

I was able to view the aurora Sunday evening from north and east of Oklahoma City - appeared as a diffuse blue-green glow on the northern horizon. First time I've ever seen an aurora this far south - first time I've seen an aurora ever.

I am so jealous. I've always wanted to see auroras, but it's not an easy thing here in FL. I can only imagine the view out of an airplane traveling from say Anchorage to Detroit at night.

Keep those reports coming.

Here in the "city" lights I could make out a general glow to the northern sky, but it almost looked like clouds moving in and light reflecting off of them back to the Earth. When I drove out into the country, it was almost terrifying to see how bright and distinct they were. Gave me the chills when I was sitting out there. There were lots of reds towards the horizon, but the greens and whites (I'm ~ color blind so I'm not exactly certain of the colors) stretched up almost to the zenith. It was very dynamic, constantly shifting, with many many waves. I also saw a HUGE meteor in the western sky around 10:15 eastern time. It was definitely a very cool experience...never seen anything like it. A Canadian friend of mine here said he's never seen them that good in his life either. I talked to friends and family in southern IN, central KY and SW MO...they all saw the same things I did. Anyone who didn't see it last night should definitely check it out tonight!

It's cloudy right now, but I'll have to make sure I take a look this evening. I'm sorry I missed last night's show!

Yea stephanie, with luck skies will stay clear overnight tonight. It will definitely be colder, so several layers of warm clothing should do it for you if you want to view for a long period of time tonite. To see an aurora display for 75 minutes in just one display last night was incredible. It was constant and quite vivid at times.

Tonight's display could be potentially as good if not better. We shall see. Good luck everyone if you're spotting auroras tonight.

Jim

PurdueWx80 wrote:Here in the "city" lights I could make out a general glow to the northern sky, but it almost looked like clouds moving in and light reflecting off of them back to the Earth. When I drove out into the country, it was almost terrifying to see how bright and distinct they were. Gave me the chills when I was sitting out there. There were lots of reds towards the horizon, but the greens and whites (I'm ~ color blind so I'm not exactly certain of the colors) stretched up almost to the zenith. It was very dynamic, constantly shifting, with many many waves. I also saw a HUGE meteor in the western sky around 10:15 eastern time. It was definitely a very cool experience...never seen anything like it. A Canadian friend of mine here said he's never seen them that good in his life either. I talked to friends and family in southern IN, central KY and SW MO...they all saw the same things I did. Anyone who didn't see it last night should definitely check it out tonight!

Fully agree to that statement. I saw a few meteors as well while the auroras were cranked up. The combinations were pretty cool. For like an entire hour I saw about 3 meteors and an aurora display for 75 minutes.

Aha ... the meteors are part of the Leonid Meteor Belt and what a bonus for skywatching tonight ...

SF

The one I saw was in the W/WSW portion of the sky, if I'm not mistaken the Leonids are usually of to the northeast...is that correct?

Isn't it a little early for leonids? Thought it was closer to Taurids. Should come from above Orion

weathermom wrote:Isn't it a little early for leonids? Thought it was closer to Taurids. Should come from above Orion

I believe you're correct ... the Leonids aren't expected until the 15th of Nov., here's the list of projected annual meteor showers ...



SF

Actually, a very old stream of the Leonids which has been strongly perturbed is supposed to be active tonight but the primary maximum of the Leonids is supposed to be on the 19th. As far as aurbo is concerned tonight, we are in a lull right now and are waiting on the CME from the X2 event to arrive.

Steve

Correction to my above post ...from http://www.spaceweather.com

LEONID METEORS: Sky watchers in Europe and Asia should be on the lookout for a flurry of shooting stars, as many as 100 per hour, on Nov. 8th around 2330 GMT. That's when Earth is expected to plow through a 1000-year-old stream of dust from comet Tempel-Tuttle--the parent of the Leonid meteor shower.