Aurora Alert

[Aslkahuna]

Auroral activity is currently visible from New Hampshire and could become brighter and visible from more southerly locations tonight. In addition we have another X-class flare in progress and a proton event has started.

Steve

[Extremeweatherguy]

has the aurora ever been seen as far south as Houston, TX? If so is there any possiblity of that happening from this event? It would sure be neat to see one time.

[badger70]

has the aurora ever been seen as far south as Houston, TX? If so is there any possiblity of that happening from this event? It would sure be neat to see one time.

I'm guessing it somewhat unlikely. The highest rating of geomagnetic storm (G5) takes the southern edge of the aurora to about 35 N latitude, putting it somewhere around central OK / AK. But I'd like to be wrong!

Edited: revised geography

[Aslkahuna]

Under the most extreme circumstances, the aurora has been seen in the Tropics. One display in 1909 was seen in Singapore. The March 1989 aurbo was seen in HI. We have seen a number of bright displays down here in SE AZ and since our geomagnetic latitude (which is what determines auroral visibility) is not much different from Houston's, they have undoubtedly been in the visiblilty zone of past aurbos. The main problem has to do with light pollution because unless you are outside of the city in a dark sky location you will never see the aurora (or at least only very rarely). This particular storm is going to be marginal for southern observers though with the current ap/K values at 179/8- which we continue at that level for a while it might happen.

Steve

[Extremeweatherguy]

thanks for the answers!

Interesting to hear about the auroras even reaching the tropics in the past. That would have been interesting to see.

[senorpepr]

Auroral activity is currently visible from New Hampshire and could become brighter and visible from more southerly locations tonight. In addition we have another X-class flare in progress and a proton event has started.

Steve

This would be the fourth X-class flare from sunspot 930 (at least since it cross the eastern limb). The latest rating from SEC has minor events due to solar radiation storming (S1), but severe for geomagnetic storming (G4). A G4 event, statistically, only happens 100 times every cycle (or 11 years).

I haven't heard of too many impacts from this latest flare (which registered as X1.5), but it's still pretty early, I suppose.

[Aslkahuna]

01Z ap/K=207/8Z

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

Under the most extreme circumstances, the aurora has been seen in the Tropics. One display in 1909 was seen in Singapore. The March 1989 aurbo was seen in HI. We have seen a number of bright displays down here in SE AZ and since our geomagnetic latitude (which is what determines auroral visibility) is not much different from Houston's, they have undoubtedly been in the visiblilty zone of past aurbos. The main problem has to do with light pollution because unless you are outside of the city in a dark sky location you will never see the aurora (or at least only very rarely). This particular storm is going to be marginal for southern observers though with the current ap/K values at 179/8- which we continue at that level for a while it might happen.

Steve

I want to see an aurora. I heard in 1989, it could be seen far south as Central America. We have light pollution in the Houston area.

[Aslkahuna]

I know the 1989 aurora was almost overhead from here in SE AZ so given the height the red aurora reaches in big displays (1000 km) it definitely would have been seen in Central America and Houston would have seen it as well if it were not for the city lights. That is the key because the diffuse glow of the city lights will hide all but the brightest parts of a big aurbo. BTW last nights event was indeed faintly seen in AZ according to Spaceweather.com.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

I know the 1989 aurora was almost overhead from here in SE AZ so given the height the red aurora reaches in big displays (1000 km) it definitely would have been seen in Central America and Houston would have seen it as well if it were not for the city lights. That is the key because the diffuse glow of the city lights will hide all but the brightest parts of a big aurbo. BTW last nights event was indeed faintly seen in AZ according to Spaceweather.com.

Steve

Cool. I hate light pollution.

[senorpepr]

I was tempted to drive up north (away from the city lights) and check out the aurbo last night. According to the reports on spaceweather.com, there were plenty of reports (and pictures) south of me, so I should have had a descent view. Maybe next time I'll make it happen.

[Aslkahuna]

Chris Schur photographed the aurbo from Payson AZ and his description jibes with what I saw down here allowing for me being further south so it was visible as far south as AZ just not very bright down here. Considering how remarkable this burst of activity has been for this phase of the cycle it's could be a while before we see another big display.

Steve