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.
Is there a particular time that will be best to be on the look out? I would love to see this phenomenon.
After dark and away from city lights. The darker the sky, the better. Looking into the chances of a show again tonight.
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
[…] According to Dan’s Wild Wild Science Journal, a blog from weather forecaster Dan Satterfield, the display was due to “Saturday’s coronal mass ejection [which] sparked a moderate to strong geomagnetic storm.” […]
[…] News 19 meteorologist Dan Satterfield also posted a piece on his blog “Dan’s Wild Wild Science Journal,” about the […]
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.
Will look for it Jeremy! My best friend is a wedding photographer in the UK by the way. Fantastic pic!
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/
[…] In 1859, a solar superstorm caused northern lights that could be seen near tropical latitudes in places like Cuba and El Salvador. In 2011, the aurora borealis was seen as far south as Alabama. […]
[…] Im Jahr 1859 verursachte ein solarer Supersturm Nordlichter in der Nähe tropischer Breiten sichtbar an Orten wie Kuba und El Salvador. 2011 wurden die Nordlichter gesichtet bis nach Alabama . im Süden. […]
[…] In 1859, a solar superstorm caused northern lights that could be seen near tropical latitudes in places like Cuba and El Salvador. In 2011, the aurora borealis was seen as far south as Alabama. […]
[…] In 1859, a solar superstorm caused northern lights that could be seen near tropical latitudes in places like Cuba and El Salvador. In 2011, the aurora borealis was seen as far south as Alabama. […]
[…] In 1859, a solar superstorm caused northern lights that could be seen near tropical latitudes in places like Cuba and El Salvador. In 2011, the aurora borealis was seen as far south as Alabama. […]