When was the last time you got out to a light show?

[stephen55]

If the skies are clear this Friday, get outside for what might be an excellent display of the Northern Lights.

http://www******.com/12530-solar-flare-aurora-northern-lights-friday.html

"Those who look to the skies on Friday (Aug. 5) may see exceptional auroras thanks to a strong solar flare that hurled a cloud of plasma toward Earth earlier this week.

The solar flare occurred yesterday (Aug. 2) when an intense magnetic event above sunspot 1261 blasted out a flow of charged particles that's now headed toward Earth, according to SpaceWeather.com, a website that monitors space weather. This could unleash a geomagnetic storm here on our planet that might disrupt satellite and radio communications.

The plus side, though, is that skywatchers at high latitudes can expect extra-special aurora borealis displays, also known as the Northern Lights, from the interaction of these charged particles with Earth's magnetic field."

If you're not fortunate to live at a high northern latitude, head south. Any time the sun sends a blast of particles our way (a coronal mass ejection), it lights up the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) as well.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

If the skies are clear this Friday, get outside for what might be an excellent display of the Northern Lights.

Stop that. You're making me homesick.

 

[stephen55]

Seeing as how it's the depth of winter at the South Pole and currently about -60*C, the show down there should be awesome.

 

[Dual_Triode]

And 2 weeks ago I was in Alaska.
But... Friday I will be at latitude 47 deg 37 min north. It's supposed to be clear, so I will bring my camera.

 

[stephen55]

Quick!!
Back to Alaska!

 

[Handley_Page]

any idea what latitudes is the visible boundary and if it will be visible from the UK ?

 

[sr71plt]

I think it was 1994; one of those shooting star extravaganzas from the top of a mesa on a Mediterranean island with clear skies.

 

[oggbashan]

any idea what latitudes is the visible boundary and if it will be visible from the UK ?

It depends on the cloud cover and the clarity of the air.

Some years ago I drove to a hill top in Kent, well away from any street or house lights, and saw the Aurora. Unfortunately the film in my camera wasn't sensitive enough to record it even with a five minute exposure.

Many years ago I saw the Aurora Australis from a ship crossing the Great Australian Bight. Apart from the ship's navigational staff, I was almost the only person on board who made the effort to get up in the middle of the night.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

I was a teenager when I last saw them. I was camping under the open stars in northern Vermont, around Mt. Mansfield I think. A friend shook me awake in the middle of the night, and I watched in that dreamlike half-awake, half-asleep state.

It was the best show I'd ever seen, though I'm sure it's nothing compared to what you see in northern Canada or Alaska.

 

[stephen55]

any idea what latitudes is the visible boundary and if it will be visible from the UK ?

From what I understand, it depends on the amount of particles being swept up by the Earth's magnetic field. The solar wind effects Earth's magnet field and vice versa.

In general, the stronger the solar flare, the lower in latitude that the aurora can be seen. But those closer to the poles always get the best show.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

It was July, 1995, Stone Mountain, Georgia. Great light show. No it's not the same as the Aurora at either pole but the light show is spectacular.

 

[stephen55]

A clear night, lovely stars...and no light show!!