Just set a 3:00am alarm for tomorrow

[analog.universe]

There's a gigantic coronal mass ejection expected to hit Earth at 10:00UT Aug 5. (more info at SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids) I'm gonna head up north of town and try and photograph some Aurora Borealis! I never in my life have seen them, never mind shoot them.... strong chance tonite though. The last of our dark hours will just maybe catch the beginning of the magnetic storm, the west coast and pacific will probably have a better shot at it. Planning on trying for tomorrow night too if it's still going on.

Anyone else excited?

 

[pgriz]

Wow, thanks for the heads-up. Don't know if I'll be experiencing a bout of insomnia, but if I don't and you do, will you post what you were able to capture?

 

[480sparky]

I'm all atwitter, but all I will see is the city lights shining on the bottom of rain clouds.

 

[analog.universe]

Wow, thanks for the heads-up. Don't know if I'll be experiencing a bout of insomnia, but if I don't and you do, will you post what you were able to capture?

Certainly will :thumbup:

 

[NikonME]

10:00UT Aug 5 is what, 5am EST ?

 

[analog.universe]

Yes, but more importantly 6am EDT : )

There is a +/- 7 hour margin of error in the prediction apparently though... and there are a couple waves coming

 

[NikonME]

Sadly I work tomorrow so I doubt I will be up at late. Make sure you get some good pics and video

 

[Kerbouchard]

Very cool. I don't think I will be able to see it in Dallas, but seeing the Northern Lights is on my bucket list. I hope you capture some great shots and hope you share whatever you capture.

 

[NikonME]

I'm just a little more north(east) than analog.universe, but right now unless it clears up here, I can't see anything but clouds.

 

[NikonME]

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center describes it this way: “real anticipation for the first of what may be three convergent shocks to slam the geomagnetic field in the next twelve hours . .. Two impacts are expected G2 (Moderate) to G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storming on August 5, and potentially elevated protons to the S2 (Moderate) Solar Radiation Storm condition”

In short, this solar activity could upset electronic equipment, particularly in space. NASA tweeted that auroras may be viewable as far south as Pennsylvania Friday night.

 

[pgriz]

Drat. clouded out in Montreal. Any luck elsewhere?

 

[NikonME]

It was cloudy in Maine too. No go.

 

[shortpants]

How did it go? I wish I knew about this, although I'm much further south and probably wouldn't have seen anything.

 

[ghache]

I will be travelling From ottawa to the east coast during that time.

 

[NikonME]

NOAA predicts strong geomagnetic storm auroras August 4-5, 2011 - National astronomy | Examiner.com

"This solar flare and CME combination is expected to produce a strong geomagnetic storm, which could produce aurora activity, also known as northern or southern lights, as far south in North America as a line connecting the states of Oregon, Nebraska, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Anyone with dark clear skies further north than these states has a good chance of observing the aurora borealis or northern lights on late Thursday or early Friday nights. Look for multicolored shimmering lights towards the north."