Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch (and maybe big Northern Lights show)
- Thread starter Jer
- Start date
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”Do you have a lot of crazy neighbors???
The Kp is one thing but watch the solar wind too. The Bz. It really needs to be negative for us to have a good chance at seeing. That is the solar wind which helps displace it from higher latitudes.
https://seetheaurora.com/live-data (Red line)
Kp is okay for tonight, but the Bz has been strongly positive most of the day. Wouldn't hang my hat on it tonight. We'll have increasing clouds too.
Solar activity is at something like a decade long maximum. The frequency of chances for Northern Lights is off the chart right now. We've had several in the last few months. Even twice they've materialized this week! Enjoy it. It's not too common.
They never get old. I'm always mesmerized every time I see them. Last night's was a great show. I saw them naked eye in Norwalk with so much light pollution from Des Moines. I'm sure it would have been amazing 25 miles east/west.
https://seetheaurora.com/live-data (Red line)
Kp is okay for tonight, but the Bz has been strongly positive most of the day. Wouldn't hang my hat on it tonight. We'll have increasing clouds too.
Solar activity is at something like a decade long maximum. The frequency of chances for Northern Lights is off the chart right now. We've had several in the last few months. Even twice they've materialized this week! Enjoy it. It's not too common.
They never get old. I'm always mesmerized every time I see them. Last night's was a great show. I saw them naked eye in Norwalk with so much light pollution from Des Moines. I'm sure it would have been amazing 25 miles east/west.
The sun shooting a big load of electromagnetic stuff at us.
Somewhat related I like to take people out when it's really cold and find a field miles from town. The Milky Way is striking on a clear winter night.
Striking? Nice try but I ain’t falling for that old trick.
LOL Seriously. You can see the band across the sky. One of my favorite Iowa secrets. Obviously you want there to be a new or crescent moon. I say a really cold night because there will be very little moisture in the atmosphere.
Is that why it seems so clear on cold winter nights? The lack of moisture? I used to stand outside the house after chores and just look at the sky and it always seemed so bright and clear in the dead of winter.
Suuuuure, lots of secrets in those fields miles from town.
Shots off of my deck last night around 9:15.
It helps. Obviously cloudless nights are kind of few and far between during Iowa winters but when it all aligns you can see the disk across the sky.
The light in the background is Red Oak. I really want to go to the Nebraska Star Party some day.
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