25 October 2011
Northern Lights Visible As Far South As Alabama Monday Night (Updated)
Posted by Dan Satterfield
Saturday’s coronal mass ejection has sparked a moderate to strong geomagnetic storm and the aurora borealis is visible as far south as North Alabama tonight. Go outside and look for a red/greenish glow in the sky. The Kp index is at 7 and this indicates a major geomagnetic storm. Spaceweather.com has some pics already up on their site and more to come I suspect.
The best view will be for those in the northern USA away from city lights. The image above was sent to the newsroom here in Huntsville (from Coldwater Creek Photography in Taft,TN).
19GMT Tuesday: The planetary Kp index is down to a 2 now so another display tonight is very unlikely. The last big display this far south was May of 1989. I held my (then 4 year old) daughter up to see the red and white curtains, dancing in the sky, over Ormond Beach, Florida! Some fantastic pics of the display last night are on spaceweather.com here.
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.
Ellen Jones said on 25 October 2011
Is there a particular time that will be best to be on the look out? I would love to see this phenomenon.
Dan Satterfield said on 25 October 2011
After dark and away from city lights. The darker the sky, the better. Looking into the chances of a show again tonight.
Donna said on 25 October 2011
Should we expect to see the lights from South Alabama again tonight? Please respond. I will stay awake all night to see them. We visited Alaska as well and would love to view the lights if they are visible tonight.
Thank you
Jeremy Myers (coldwater creek photography) said on 27 October 2011
Dan, I have posted a video of this event as well on our facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/coldwatercreekphotography
Also, I sent a full 1080P version to the station if you are interested in using it.
Dan Satterfield said on 27 October 2011
Will look for it Jeremy! My best friend is a wedding photographer in the UK by the way. Fantastic pic!
Marilyn McAllister said on 11 March 2012
Benefits of Solar Flairs: Clean Up Space Junk
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/01/120127-active-sun-solar-flares-space-junk-cleaning-earth-science/