July 24th Light Show

[jjkeighe]

I live up here in Northern Ontario. Last night I was out with my friends trying to get a good look at some of the nebulae and other cellestial objects when out of nowhere the entire sky explodes into a bright green dancing light. The Aurora Borealis. I understand how the Aurora Borealis works and how it is created but I would like to know how such a magnificent display can be manifested on such a scale. The entire sky was lit up ranging from light green through blues to reds. Was there a period of extreme solar activity yesterday or was it just our position relative to the sun? (Summer here so pole is directed slightly to the sun.)

 

[igorsboss]

A large sunspot just happened to be pointing our way. <br /><br />Yes, there was a severe solar storm. You can get more information from the Space Environment Center. www.sec.noaa.gov<br /><br />In watching this event, did you get the feeling that you were a little tiny little bitty ensy weensie insignificant small minute puny flyspeck in the unimaginably humongously gargantuanly huge universe of ours? If so, then that's a good start.<br />

 

[jjkeighe]

You know you are right in that respect. But yet again there is also the feeling that we should be travelling not only around the world but outside of it to see the amazing wonders our universe has to offer. How would the Horsehead Nebula look from 10 Ly away? To see the Orion Nebula from the other side? Is the Catseye the same the whole way around? To see the rise of 3 moons over a new mountain range? so many things I want to see but due to human technological and social levels can never experience other than that of my imagination <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />

 

[igorsboss]

It you really want to see these things, be sure to inhale deeper and hold it longer next time. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />