Watch for Northern Lights tonight

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Lights watch
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the visibility of the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) potentially being seen south of the 45th parallel, with participants sharing their experiences and challenges in viewing the phenomenon. Many express frustration with light pollution and weather conditions, particularly in areas like Oregon and southern Washington, which hinder visibility. Some participants reminisce about seeing the auroras in places like Fairbanks and northern Minnesota, while others inquire about the possibility of auroras in the southern hemisphere, specifically the aurora australis. The conversation also touches on solar activity, mentioning a recent solar flare that may have influenced auroral visibility. Participants share links to NOAA resources for tracking auroras and express a desire to learn more about geomagnetism and solar phenomena. Overall, the thread highlights both the excitement and challenges of observing the Northern Lights, along with a sense of community among those interested in celestial events.
Ivan Seeking
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
8,194
Reaction score
2,530
The Northern Lights - aurora borealis - may be visible tonight south of the 45 parallel.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/gif/pmapN.gif
This plot shows the current extent and position of the auroral oval in the northern hemisphere, extrapolated from measurements taken during the most recent polar pass of the NOAA POES satellite...
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapN.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Damn you clouds!
 
I'm too far south. The map shows me along the southern border, but I see nothing. Too bad.
 
I *might* be able to see them, but I live south of Seattle so the light pollution will probably get in the way.

When I lived in Fairbanks I saw them a lot of course...they're so cool :cool:. Definitely worth standing outside on a -40 night...at least for a few minutes.
 
Wait, are they on right now!?
 
Ivan Seeking said:
The Northern Lights - aurora borealis - may be visible tonight south of the 45 parallel.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/gif/pmapN.gif

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapN.html

Light pollution and too many trees...:mad:

The moon is pretty though. And the constellations... Gads what a beautiful universe. :smile:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I can setup a solar panel and charge my cell phone over night from light pollution.
 
Was this only for last night?
 
I think last night was supposed to be the peak resulting from a solar flare four days ago.

Didn't see anything here in Oregon.
 
  • #10
Ivan Seeking said:
I think last night was supposed to be the peak resulting from a solar flare four days ago.

Didn't see anything here in Oregon.

I thought it might be from the kruez stargrazer comet "colliding" with the sun... A friend of mine told me that about a month ago a kruez stargrazer comet "collided" with the sun
 
  • #11
Do you have information about Australis aurorae or whatever it's called? I live in the South hemisphere... maybe there's a correlation between the north's ones and the south's ones. (Yeah I know, I should google... ahahah).
 
  • #12
fluidistic said:
Do you have information about Australis aurorae or whatever it's called? I live in the South hemisphere... maybe there's a correlation between the north's ones and the south's ones. (Yeah I know, I should google... ahahah).

No need to google as I already provided a link to the NOAA site. Here is the southern hemisphere.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/gif/pmapS.gif
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapS.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13
Ivan Seeking said:
No need to google as I already provided a link to the NOAA site. Here is the southern hemisphere.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/gif/pmapS.gif
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapS.html

Thanks and sorry for not having seen it.
Ah, there's no way I can see aurora.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #14
Ivan Seeking said:
I think last night was supposed to be the peak resulting from a solar flare four days ago.

Didn't see anything here in Oregon.

Thank you for the notice and for the link which I saved earlier today. Looks like it may take some time to understand how to follow the charts.
Of the physical sciences this is tied into a subject and passion I have had since childhood but never had a chance to study. Now with internet we can.
I also have a great interest in geomagnetism but do not know the best place to go on the internet to learn the basics on up.
There is a little mentioned on this forum under Earth.
Thanks
 
  • #15
Solar wind is around 600km/s, or about 2.95 days to reach earth. The fastest solar flare took around 15 minutes to reach Earth in 2005 I believe.
 
  • #16
Last night I had nearly ideal conditions in my home in Toronto: clear skies, a nearly unobstructed view of the north, and tolerable (as in, suburban-level) light pollution. I looked up several times but didn't see anything.
 
  • #17
ideasrule,
In Toronto do you see them? We use to see some lights in northern Minnesota.
I'm not there now. I've never seen the lights in colors though.
MotoH,
Thank you for the information on Solar wind.
 
  • #18
No, I've never seen the northern lights before. That said, I've only been living in suburban Toronto for 6 years, and was only an active amateur astronomer (as in, someone who goes out every clear night) for 2. I hope to see the lights someday.
 
  • #19
Minnesota ftw!

Honestly there hasn't been any northern lights in about 3 years that I have seen. I am at my shack with near zero light pollution (in a blue/gray region) every weekend in the late spring, and early fall and I haven't seen anything!

Our Sun needs to ramp it up, and our magnetic field needs to sit on the couch for a couple weeks (in other words become weak.) Although getting hit with a highly energized proton doesn't sound very fun.
 
  • #20
MotoH said:
Minnesota ftw!

Honestly there hasn't been any northern lights in about 3 years that I have seen. I am at my shack with near zero light pollution (in a blue/gray region) every weekend in the late spring, and early fall and I haven't seen anything!

Our Sun needs to ramp it up, and our magnetic field needs to sit on the couch for a couple weeks (in other words become weak.) Although getting hit with a highly energized proton doesn't sound very fun.

What kind of sun screen are thinking of using for this event you are dreaming up there?
And I think it was around Lake of the Woods, MN that I saw the aurora in white about 1977 in the winter or fall. Not sure the season and I might be off a year.
 
  • #21
Do they ever get down to about the 35th parallel?
 

Similar threads

Albedo Change as the Basis for Recent Northern Planetary Warming-1
Replies
7
Views
5K
Writing: Input Wanted What Makes Great Lakes Earth So Geographically Unique?
Replies
6
Views
3K
Magnetic Reconnection vs Double Layers
Replies
8
Views
5K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top