Aurora alert for Friday, Sept. 9

by Gene on Sep. 08th, 2005
in Earth and Space Science

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Scientists have detected some major activity on the surface of the Sun. This often leads to very active Northern (and Southern) Lights a day or two later.

Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun strike the Earth's magnetic field. Unfortunately, the particles from this event are likely to arrive on Friday morning, shortly before sunrise Minnesota time. But, the effects may linger into Friday night and perhaps even the weekend. So be sure to go out in the evening, find a dark place and look up -- we could be in for a show.

Unfortunately the flare also has the potential to distrupt electrical systems and communications on Earth. So we may face some problems there on Friday, too.

Average:

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

RussD says:

Folks are reporting great aurora over Minnesota in the last 48 hours. Once the current rain clears, we might again get a good view of this latest event.

Minnesota Astronomical Society Member Chris White has posted a number of great images on his website at:

http://www.jakeblaster.com/NorthernLights/09_11_2005/

The images were taken Saturday September 10th at the club's Onan Observatory near Young America, MN.

Check out www.spaceweather.com for the latest reports of solar activity. You can also sign up for email notification of solar flares and aurora alerts. You can also find a gallery of images from the last few days there; just click on "September 11th Aurora Gallery".

Russ Durkee

Shed of Science Observatory
Minneapolis

posted on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 12:34pm

RussD says:

More aurora are expected over North American midlatitudes tonight 9/14. The same sunspot region has ejected two new X-ray flares in the last 24 hours and are expected to re-intensify through friday 9/16.

The good news is there will be clear skies over much of the midwest tonight. Althought the moon will interefere somewhat, we may be in for a good show.

Russ Durkee
Shed of Science Observatory
http://home.earthlink.net/~shedofscience
Minneapolis

posted on Wed, 09/14/2005 - 8:55am

andyman says:

I was just up in the BWCA over that time period. The lights were definitely on. Thank you for the heads-up on the phenomena!

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Aurora alert for Friday, Sept. 9

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