Major Solar Flare Prompts An Aurora Warning

Just some news of a possible Aurora Event, as distributed by "SKY & TELESCOPE"

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A major class M8.0 solar flare on 13 May has been associated with a
coronal mass ejection that appears to be strongly Earthward-directed. A major geomagnetic and auroral storm is expected to materialize on 15 May when the CME impacts the Earth. Periods of moderate to strong auroral storm conditions could be observed with this disturbance. Many middle latitude observations of activity should be possible after the disturbance arrives.
Impact is expected sometime during the early to mid UTC hours of 15 May and the disturbance should persist well into 16 May. For North American observers, the first opportunity to observe activity may come as early as the very early morning hours (pre-dawn) of 15 May. The next (slightly less favorable) opportunity will be on the evening of 15 May, although depending on when the disturbance arrives, storm conditions may be on the decline by the time darkness falls over North America. Observers are encouraged to watch for activity.
As we approach the solar minimum, these opportunities to observe the "northern lights" will diminish in frequency. This disturbance may have the potential to produce fairly vigorous auroral storming for brief periods of time.

This warning will remain valid through 24:00 UTC (6 pm EDT) on
16 May. It will be updated or allowed to expire at that time. For updated
information, visit: www.spacew.com/aurora/forum.html .

For real-time plots of current activity, visit: www.spacew.com/plots.html

shanemcd wrote: Just some news of a possible Aurora Event, as distributed by "SKY & TELESCOPE"

So we should keep an eye out tonight or is it expected to hit tomorrow night?

Daniel

So we should keep an eye out tonight or is it expected to hit tomorrow night?

Daniel

Daniel,
I'd say, with most Earth-bound flares, its no harm at all to have a quick during the night towards the North for an auroral glow.
Don't forget, there is the SOHO (SOlar & Heliospferic Observatory) satellite, which is between us and the sun, and will pass the data back to us if the flare were to speed up. But, by the time that news reached us here through the usual net channels etc, it would probably already be well active!

So, just keep an eye out anyway!

Looks like things are quiet-ish tonight.

I use 5 different sites as reference:
I have placed them (very roughly) on my server if anyone wishes to comment on which is most effective etc.

You can find it at ;
www.shanemcdonald.org/aurora.html

All IFRAMEs so you can scroll the page or within individual windows. (May not work with Netscape)

I was out tonight and didnt see any signs of an aurora, I do not have a dark northern horizon, so if there was a faint horizon hugger, I would have missed it. Maybe tomorrow night?!?
Did anyone else see any sign of one.

I was heading home at about 3am and the moon was grazing the western horizon, it had a nice dark yellow colour about it.

Did anyone else see any sign of one.

Nothing other than the usual orange glow for me in Dublin.