Space Weather

[Island-Ho]

There has been a lot of activity from the sun lately.

**** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK ****

Summary For November 1-7
Category R1 (minor) on 01, 03, 04, 05, and 06 November, category R2
(moderate) on 03, 04, and 06 November, and category R3 (strong) on 07
November radio blackouts were observed due to a burst of solar flare
activity from active sunspot Region 696. Category G1 (minor), G2
(moderate), and G3 (strong) geomagnetic storming occurred on 07
November due to clouds of magnetic material from solar flares on the
Sun that impacted Earth. Category S1 (minor) and S2 (moderate) on 01
November and category S1 (minor) on 07 – 08 November solar radiation
storms were observed due to solar flare activity from active sunspot
regions on the Sun.

Outlook For November 10-16
Category R1 (minor) and R2 (moderate) radio blackouts are possible from
active sunspot Region 696. There is a chance for category G1 (minor),
G2 (moderate), and G3 (strong) geomagnetic storms due to clouds of
magnetic material from solar flares on the Sun and from high speed
solar winds from a coronal hole on the Sun. Category S1 (minor) solar
radiation storms are possible with major solar flare activity from
active sunspot Region 696.

Has anyone observed any aurora around the lake? Keep a lookout over the next few nights as the activity is expected to continue.

[DRH]

Yes, there was an aurora in the northern sky last night, which seemed to peak at around 11 p.m. From our vantage point it appeared directly over Rattlesnake Island. There were shimmering curtains of green, with occasional shafts of green light extending far up into the sky. I have never tried to photograph an aurora, and last night it was just too cold for me to practice!

[Joe G]

What time does this occur and is tonight going to be a better night than the next few??? I heard it was great last night

[throttleman]

I observed the northern lights last night at 11pm and then again at 2:00am. The sky was much more active at 2:00am. A friend was out jogging early this morning around 5:00am and she saw them as well. I tried taking pictures with my digital camera using an extremely slow shutter speed but it was too dark. If you do a search on this site you'll find some pictures from previous northern lights sightings from around the lake.

Around 11pm, from my vantage point the northern lights appeared to be a bright haze over the moutains & along the horizon--almost as if there was a big city beyond the hills. Every few minutes beams of light would shoot upwards and across the sky like powerful spotlights. At 2:00am the northern lights were much more spectacular. There still wasn't much color--again it appeared to be a slight greyish/greenish haze. However, this time the lights were much more active and lit up a very large portion of the night sky. It had the appearance of a gigantic cloud that was fanned out with the stroke of an enormous paint brush. Beams of light were shooting across the sky in every direction. The lights were rippling, pulsating, and shimmering with psychedelic effects. It was mesmerizing and so beautiful! I'll be watching the sky again tonight hoping to catch another view.

[Island Girl]

..... we flatlanders are waiting!

[DRH]

..... we flatlanders are waiting!
There didn't appear to be any display last night. Maybe tonight?

[Island Girl]

There were reports from Hanover and Hillsborough of auroral activity at 11 pm and 2-3 am. There were also reports from NJ.

There should be more tonight. Here is a map that will tell you by the hour, the extent of the lights. I just might get up myself.

http://solar.uleth.ca/www/aurvis.gif

[DRH]

Thanks for the info, IG. The unfortunate thing is that we have a solid overcast here with rain predicted for tonight. With a cloud cover we're going to miss whatever aurora display may take place. There's snow in the forecast for tomorrow night, as well! The forecast is for 1 - 2 inches at the lake, but double that where you are in central MA. Got that snowblower gassed up? :laugh:

[gravy boat]

Great website!
Happy viewing to all!

[Island Girl]

Who needs a snowblower..... I will just ride around the yard on my recently services snowmobile and pack it all down.

Let it snow!

[DRH]

The skies actually cleared here after dark last night (Thursday), but other than a faint lightness in the sky to the north, we didn't see any aurora display.

[Tyler]

Island Girl, how do you/we read that map you posted that link for? I can't figure it out.

Island Ho, that message you copied and pasted about the solar activity, could you provide a link to that site? Thanks.

[Island Girl]

http://solar.uleth.ca/www/aurvis.gif is a map of the world looking from the north pole south. the Green fuzzy color is the extent of an aurora. If it extends over NH, then it should be visible from there.

http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/ is another aurora map. the red is the strongest and the yellow is somewhat less intensive. It is easier to see the the United States on this page.

I like this page as well as it shows the auroral activity over a period of time.
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/OverviewN.html