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myth09 Jan 2014
Massively strong aurora forecast for tonight. Might be worth looking out of the window if it's clear and you're in Scotland. Anyone in Iceland is going to be in for an awesome night.
In reply to skog: Looking at your link.... Do you know why quite often (/ normally ?) the aurora seems to be offset so the US gets effects a lot further south than we do?
I don't know if this is the answer to your question, but on the TV prog last night, they said the aurora circle is actually an oval that extends down into the night side of the earth (ie. away from the sun). Which, if that is correct, would mean that, about now, it extends down into the USA as it is still their nighttime.
I think it tends to be more intense and reach further South during the night time, so it'll look that way during the day here, but the opposite 12 hours later. The read arrow on the chart is the noon meridian, and tends to be where the activity is weakest.
I thought it was because the "circle" is centred on the North Magnetic Pole, which is currently around 86N 147W, rather than the North Geographic Pole.
That will be the case as it's a magnetic phenomenon but the oval extending into nighttime side of the earth seems correct, so maybe a combo of the two?
Ok i read that and kind of understood.........however can anyone tell me is there an optimum UK time? I need to know so i can decide what to tell the kids.
> I thought it was because the "circle" is centred on the North Magnetic Pole, which is currently around 86N 147W, rather than the North Geographic Pole.
Not here it's not... the sky seemed to have a certain brightness but that was probably due to the glow from the moon reflecting off wispy clouds. I was looking out over the Moray Firth from around Lossiemouth area, I'm now off to bed!
I cannot place that bright star or recognise any star groups easily.
I think we are looking North then the main brightness is coming from the East, I'm not sure the Moon would be Eastern at night on Thursday, it was less than first quarter.
Yes....curious.
it becomes clear that the bright star is Jupiter in the constellation of Gemini. So I'm happy about the stars now, but not sure about those auroral 'features'.
Did any of our Welsh correspondents witness these ? Surely with the smart phone ubiquity, somebody on UKC would have had a snap of them.
The story is interesting as well... she just happened to be up there by chance and just happened to be trying a long exposure which she had "never tried before" - sounds like nonsense to me!
It's not impossible, but I'm inclined to agree. Getting the exposure just right for aurora is tricky. If you were doing exposures suitable for an LE star shot the aurora itself would be over exposed unless it was v faint.
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