Author Topic: Aurora watch (Read 5240 times)

Stefan · « **on:** March 08, 2012, 09:53:59 AM »

I just reviewed an email about possible auroral activity from a large active sunspot that has has a major X5 class solar flare (the biggest of its class)
I’ve attached an image of the sunspot which I took though my telescope.
The email reads as follows....

Hi everyone. A large & complex sunspot group (AR 1429) has emerged from behind the solar limb & is producing powerful flares. A number of M class & two X class flares have produced multiple CME's in the past 48 hours. As yet, none of these are heading directly at earth, but the latest X5 flare will probably deliver at least a glancing blow in the days ahead. Further flares in the coming days will be more geoeffective.

A weak CME from an unrelated group has reached earth tonight, and is currently causing a small storm (Kp 6). Any further impacts in the next day or so will further disturb our magnetic field, possibly producing mid latitude auroras.

Observers are encouraged to keep an eye out for possible auroral activity in the nights ahead.

At present, velocity is 432 km/sec. Density is 18.4, Bt is 20.0 and Bz is -18.2. The predicted Kp index for the next hour is 5+.

For more info checkout http://www.spaceweather.com/