Northern Lights (8/9 Sept 2017)

[Psamathe]

In case anybody was not aware (and is interested), big solar storm arriving tonight and an aurora: "Red alert: aurora likely".

It is likely that aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK. Viewing aurora requires clear, dark skies away from light pollution.

Activity potentially starting 23:00 8 Sept, peaking midnight-01:00, and continuing at red until 03:00 (when it rapidly declines).

And whilst it might be miserable rainy now, the forecast variable depending on where you are in the UK (some areas not worth even bothering to look, others might be lucky).

Ian

[Cyril Haearn]

If I had known a bit sooner I would have tried to overnight on Cadair Idris

Older people, who heard it in turn from their grandparents, say that anyone staying the night up there will wake either mad, blind, or a poet..

[Psamathe]

If I had known a bit sooner I would have tried to overnight on Cadair Idris

Older people, who heard it in turn from their grandparents, say that anyone staying the night up there will wake either mad, blind, or a poet..

Forecast for that area is "not good" (bad enough that as things stand it's a case of "don't bother").

Ian

[mjr]

Activity potentially starting 23:00 8 Sept, peaking midnight-01:00, and continuing at red until 03:00 (when it rapidly declines).

Thanks for the alert. Is it only tonight? Is there a good site to watch for confirmation that something is visible to someone? Just regular stuff like twitter?

[Bonefishblues]

http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

Provides email alerts of activity

[mjr]

http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

Provides email alerts of activity

I thought that was only predictions, not confirmation?

[Bonefishblues]

http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

Provides email alerts of activity

I thought that was only predictions, not confirmation?

They predicted last night, and most other activity IME, but no, it's not confirmation as it hasn't yet happened, obvs!

[old_windbag]

I got my aurora watch alert emails this morning well after any possible sighting. That sometimes happens on my email provider...

Aurorawatch had a few false alarms last year caused by a lawn mower. But quite often I've had alerts to activity at the same time of day for several days in a row( around 6.30pm typically ), I wonder if that isn't similar environmental factors.

It's always quite galling to see the weatherman in my region going "oh and there was a magnificent aurora last night heres some images" and not having had any auroratch notification.

[mercalia]

The BBC news website had a page of some great pictures: wasnt on main page for long so had to search

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41199051

[rjb]

I got my aurora watch alert emails this morning well after any possible sighting. That sometimes happens on my email provider...

Aurorawatch had a few false alarms last year caused by a lawn mower. But quite often I've had alerts to activity at the same time of day for several days in a row( around 6.30pm typically ), I wonder if that isn't similar environmental factors.

It's always quite galling to see the weatherman in my region going "oh and there was a magnificent aurora last night heres some images" and not having had any auroratch notification.

I got my alert email this morning too. I am never sure as to when it relates as i sometimes get them late at night but does it refer to the next night or the current one?

I assume from the thread title that it must be the night following the mail shot. ie if i receive it in the middle of the night its for the following night but if i receive it in the evening its happening later the same night.

[Bonefishblues]

Last night's came in the very early hours

[old_windbag]

I am never sure as to when it relates as i sometimes get them late at night but does it refer to the next night or the current one?

I have looked at the magnetometer? readings on their site when a mail has come through and you can see the peak in activity/reading that triggers the alert. I'd imagine that the change in magnetic field readings is the direct effect of the emitted particles on the earths magnetic field so the aurora would be possible at that point in time if it happens at all. Unless the magnetic field disturbance is from the initial CME and we have a delay until any emitted particles hit the magnetic field. Psmathe may know more about the timing.

Most red alerts I get happen on cloudy nights .

[mercalia]

Runner-up ( to Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017) Kamil Nureev caught these green Northern Lights over the Siberian forest tundra