32 replies to this topic

[graphic]

One of the things I'd love to experience most is to see the Northern Lights. Apparently you can see them over parts of America, Northern Europe and Scotland tonight. Has anyone seen them?

[Ches]

No, havent seen them and they arent down in Texas tonight so ... but Id love to see them.

[graphic]

I was to be found wheeling round my garden looking up at the sky at 2am Ches - but no joy.

[StillFingers]

I don't stay out late enough to see them yet but here's a video from NatGeo and the BBC, the Northern Lights do look and apparently sound amazing

Edited by StillFingers, 06 August 2010 - 03:40 PM.

[Ches]

Space Weather.. Ahhhhhhhh

I'm headed on an Alaskan cruise in September, we planned it around the time of the 'no moon' cycle,.. hopefully we'll get to see something.

[spot]

You have to be in a pretty high latitude to see them. It's easier in Europe, where the north has a warmer climate than the same latitude in North America. The southern hemisphere just doesn't have enough land to the south, except Antarctica. Lecture over. Caught a minor show in northern Minnesota once. Too much city lighting for a good view and not a very spectacular display. I hope to see better, some day.

[oldwheelz]

Many times. Although they are nice to me they are nothing unusual.

[Ratticis]

oldwheelz, on 07 August 2010 - 12:37 AM, said:

Many times. Although they are nice to me they are nothing unusual.

Me too. I guess, like so many thungs, when you're used top it you take it for granted

[Ben]

Ratticis, on 07 August 2010 - 06:18 PM, said:

oldwheelz, on 07 August 2010 - 12:37 AM, said:

Many times. Although they are nice to me they are nothing unusual.

Me too. I guess, like so many thungs, when you're used top it you take it for granted

Never thought about them much cause they are above me all the time.

[Stand]

I'm jealous. They sound and look amazing!

[Zammo]

One of the things that I would like to do before ... you know...

[4wheelz]

ah, the aurora borealis.. super cool, for sure.. i've never seen them below 45 deg North.. could also be because of light pollution.. although they are called northern for a reason. pictures nor video do them justice. i think i've seen them almost every time i've been to Lake Superior region.



btw, the southern ones are called aurora australis

[graphic]

Ches, on 06 August 2010 - 05:53 PM, said:

Space Weather.. Ahhhhhhhh

I'm headed on an Alaskan cruise in September, we planned it around the time of the 'no moon' cycle,.. hopefully we'll get to see something.

Let us know if you see them Ches - and if there's room for me in your suitcase!
Clive

[LuckyinKentucky]

I have seen them 3 times so far while at my family's cabin in the upper peninsula of Michigan. They are quite beautiful... mesmerizing in the way looking into a fire is. The best time to catch them is during a solar flare/storm, you can get a daily space weather forcast via email from the NOAA or you can look at both auroras current activity here - http://www.swpc.noaa...pmap/index.html

Definitely something worth seeing before you go Zammo.

So Ches the new moon has passed how was your trip, did you see any lights to the far north?

[Ches]

Saw nothing, the few nights I was up late and remembered it was cloudy I hear you could see them last Tuesday in Skagway but I passed out... Trip was awesome though, the glaciers/ice sheets and whales were abundant so that made up for it!

Lucky can I go with you to Michigan next time? ;)

Edited by Ches, 15 September 2010 - 05:07 AM.

[jenny407]

StillFingers, on 06 August 2010 - 03:37 PM, said:

I don't stay out late enough to see them yet but here's a video from NatGeo and the BBC, the Northern Lights do look and apparently sound amazing

Absolutely spectacular. Sorry you didn't see them, Ches. I never have, either, although I was in Finland. Another thing on my to-do-list.

[graphic]

Sorry you didn't get to see them Ches but I bet seeing the whales more than made up for it.

[LuckyinKentucky]

Sounds like it was a fun trip Ches. It does need to be clear skied and the amount of light pollution is a big factor. You never realize how big until you see both extremes. Ben, Rattics you guys know that in a lot of densely populated areas your lucky to even see any stars. My cabin is landlocked by a big national forest (the Hiawatha) and is a couple miles off superior so ground lights are almost non existent. I have pretty clear skies at home but still campfires framed by the pristine night skies are always a loved part trips up north.

I get the daily emails from NOAA and have been waiting for a good solar storm to come along. This is what I´ll do if I make a trip up there during any moderate activity I will make a post on this thread saying so (if the trip is based on a solar storm it may be short notice).

My cabin has 4 queen beds easy access and 2 on bunks so probably anyone who wanted to could come. It´s easily navigable with a manual chair and could even be done with a power chair if I brought my portable ramp.

[Ches]

Just say the word and I'm there (and I'll bring pretty girls) !!

[LuckyinKentucky]

Sounds good Ches, and ya know I bet if ya keep waving the threat around of pretty girls in a cabin in the woods the guest list could swell rather quickly.

And graphic there is a huge abandon military air port just a mile or two away so all you have to do is get jenny to come pick up you and Zammo on her way over from Germany.

[jenny407]

LuckyinKentucky, on 16 September 2010 - 01:08 AM, said:

And graphic there is a huge abandon military air port just a mile or two away so all you have to do is get jenny to come pick up you and Zammo on her way over from Germany.

Sure, LuckyiK., I'll pick up any nice people on my way over to see those northern lights in your cabin. Hey, sounds good ...

[graphic]

A back to nature weekend - note I said 'nature' not 'naturism'
My passport is up to date so let me know when you're leaving jenny.

[jenny407]

graphic, on 16 September 2010 - 01:53 PM, said:

A back to nature weekend - note I said 'nature' not 'naturism'
My passport is up to date so let me know when you're leaving jenny.

Ha ha! No 'naturism' then? You know, that's very popular in East Germany - but I'm from the west.
OK, let's fix a date and let's get going. Via Wales to the States? Ches, I take you along or you come on your own?

Hey, that does sound great. But will LuckyiK really offer us Northern Lights? Gets me thinking, now ...

Jenny

[dangerousdave]

Hold on a minute Kentucky

What moonshine you been drinking latly, you shure its the northern lights your seeing and not the allday lights in the local nick. I know how strong some of that shine is, had to get my throat relined

[Scribbler]

Northern lights!...Mmmm I went up to John O'Groats one dark night and switched on the bedroom light.... You cant get more North in Scotland; does that count?..

[LuckyinKentucky]

Well dave I'm guessing a "nick" is bar, and the allday's the neon lights? Not that they sell it anywhere legally I do know that if you drink enough moonshine those signs could just as well be the northern lights as they could be the pearly whites.

Scribs the panel says that if there was fog or smoke in the closet at the time the light began then yes it does count as a sighting. As you know this is a very delicate meteorological matter.

And jenny the sun I cannot control (yet)... but as for this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

[jenny407]

LuckyinKentucky, on 18 September 2010 - 05:29 PM, said:

And jenny the sun I cannot control (yet)... but as for this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

Hmmmm - ok, coming! Are we still on topic here? Talking of "Northern Lights"? Me, I am!

[dangerousdave]

Northern Lights when grown and looked after appropreatly make for a enjoyable time searching the heavens for thier namesake, preferably vaped and not smoked

[LuckyinKentucky]

SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #11- 5
2011 February 01 at 10:09 a.m. MST (2011 February 01 1709 UTC)



Outlook For February 2-8
A category G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm is expected on 03 February due
to a coronal hole high speed stream.


This may do it?

[LuckyinKentucky]

An even bigger one can one of y'all Canadians let me know what the effect is on the aurora from these solar storms?

**** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK ****

Summary For February 7-13
R2 (Moderate) Solar Radiation Storms were observed on 13 February.

Outlook For February 16-22
R1 (Minor) and R2 (Moderate), along with possible R3 (Strong) Solar
Radiation Storms are expected through 21 February.