Auroras

[jschaef5]

I check the space.com aurora cam every once in a while, and today it looks interesting. <br /><br />http://www.space.com/spacewatch/aurora_cam.html<br /><br />Right now all of asia is covered in red, does that mean that there are huge strong auroras going on over there? If so, I hope this storm or whatever is causing this continues into the night time here.<br /><br />spaceWaether.com says auroras are unlikely though; that kind of confused me after looking at that pic.<br /><br />But then also on spaceweather they say this in small print below a picture:<br />"A weak solar wind stream from the indicated coronal hole could buffet Earth's magnetic field today or tomorrow. Image credit: SOHO Extreme UV Telescope"<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Yes, the red areas are where the aurora is shining.<br /><br />spaceweather.com, like any weather forecast, doesn't always guess right about auroras. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> That looks very nice -- if it persists another 16 hours, we might have a good show in the northern tier of states in the continental US. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[mtrotto7287]

im just starting to get into astronomy- so dont be upset if this question is extremely rediculous but,<br /><br />is there any specific time of the year when auroras are seen for certain areas?<br /><br />if so, do you happen to know when would be a good time to watch for them in western New York??

 

[igorsboss]

Since you can only see Auroras at night, wintertime is better, since the nights are longer.<br /><br />Since auroras happen at Sol's whim, it is better to check Sol's activity than Earth's seasons. Sol's activity follows an 11 year cycle. Rather than follow the seasons, follow the years in the cycle. Be especially alert near solar maximum.

 

[Saiph]

mtrotto: No question is a bad question. You'll find that's a common view around here.<br /><br />Even the frequently asked question isn't a bad question. It brings up discussion of it again, for new people to learn, and often illuminates another aspect of the issue than previously.<br /><br />Sometimes it causes various reference threads to be created and or bumped from the archives (I'm notorious for that).<br /><br /><br />But Igor's right, winter is best (due to long nights) and pay attention to the sun's behavior. Aurora's are more common after solar flares, and during (and a few years after) solar maximum (when there are more flares!).<br /><br />They're caused by high energy particles spewed from the sun (during those flares) interacting with the earths magnetic fields, being funneled towards the poles, and energizing the upper atmosphere like a giant flourescent light bulb. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[mtrotto7287]

thanks- and i will stop referring to my questions as stupid!!<br /><br />i think this winter, i might just have to take a trip up to northern canada- even if auroras arent very active, there is very little light pollution, and skies will be very well lit

 

[Saiph]

If that's a feasible trip, go for it (I imagine the countryside up there is very scenic).<br /><br />Though you don't "have" to go that far north to spot aurora. Just last year we (My friends and I that is) spotted some as far south as Nebraska (where I am, thus why I know). And events like that happen on a relatively regular basis (once a year or so). Though with solar minimum approaching, that's going to become less frequent. Keep an eye on SpaceWeather.com. THey'll give you a heads up on Solar Activity, and possible aurora conditions (and extent. That's how I found the big one over nebraska) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[mtrotto7287]

SpaceWeather.com???- thanks that will be helpful<br /><br />as for alaska- as much as i would like to go, i think i will wait a couple years and check out canada first- thanks though

 

[newtonian]

crazyeddie-I'll have to agree with you there.<br /><br />My wife and I drove to Alaska when we lived on Long Island, New York. <br /><br />The northern lights were awesome! That was in August and September. Nights are 12 hours everywhere on September 21st!<br /><br />We actually observed the northern lights every night we were in Alaska. Needless to say, it made it difficult to sleep since we knew we would be missing displays if we slept.<br /><br />It also made for distracted driving- the best display was actually while I was driving on the Alaskan Highway in Yukon - my eyes were often not on the road (not recomended).<br /><br />Most of the displays looked like clouds - except they kept appearing and disappearing, and pulsating. And then there would be the pulsating flashes from one horizon to the other. They were usually pale green to white.<br /><br />BTW- I saw the northern lights here in south Louisiana during the violent solar storm - was it earlier this year, or last year?<br /><br />It was blood red.