Observing

Post details: CME Impact October 24

2011-10-24

06:30:14 pm, by Tekatch Ann

, 172 words, 653 views

Categories: Observing

CME Impact October 24

CME IMPACT: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field on Oct. 24th around 1800 UT (2 pm EDT). The impact strongly compressed our planet's magnetosphere and may have exposed geosynchronous satellites to solar wind plasma. Mild to moderate geomagnetic storms are possible in the hours ahead as Earth's magnetic field continues to reverberate from the hit. Sky watchers in Scandinavia, Canada, and northern-tier US States should be alert for auroras, especially during the hours around local midnight. Check http://spaceweather.com for updates.

UPDATE: 11:30PM, Monday Oct 24 - I haven't been able to see any sign of the aurora from Hamilton mountain (including from Sam Lawrence Park), but Charles Baetsen saw a lot of auroral activity from his home near Orono. He reports seeing streamers up to the horizon at times. By the time he was able to get his camera, the aurora had faded to a glowing green arc at the bottom of the Big Dipper.

Auroral glow beneath the Big Dipper as seen from Orono, Ontario tonight. Photo by Charles Baetsen.

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Comments:

Comment from: Tekatch Ann [Member]

Update: October 25/11

Keith Mann and his family were at our alternate observing site (Tyneside Road)last night. Here are their observations of the aurora:

Date: 24 Oct 2011
Time: Approx. 2130-2300
Location: HAA Binbrook Site 2 (Tyneside Road) 43.114755, -79.879906

Weather: Clear
Temp: Approx 8C dropping
Humidity:
Moon: None
Darkness: Good, light pollution to north
Seeing: V. Good (4/5)

Observation #: 1
Time: Approx. 2130
Object: Aurora Borealis
Instrument: None
Position: Entire northern sky

First visible as we drove to site. Shimmering curtain-like aurora
visible across entire northern sky, especially western half, above
light-pollution to at least 60 degrees declination. Colour lightening
from bright green (lower) through white (higher). Visible for about 15
minutes. Suzanne's notes:

"Late in the evening, between 9:00 and 10:00, Keith and I drove along
Tyneside Road. I just happened to look up to my right and saw the most
amazing lights: like drapes – green on top and red on bottom – they
seemed to cover the sky no matter where I looked."

Permalink 2011-10-25 @ 19:21

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