Aurora Borealis

AZZenny · October 4th, 2006, 03:28 PM

I am a total Aurora Borealis nut. I grew up in New England, and when I was 11 or 12 spent hours laying on the grass one night with all the neighborhood kids, watching the most astonishing display of color -- I've only seen a few photos that were as incredible. I swear you could hear it. LOL. We only told the adults when it was over.

Since coming to AZ 23 years ago, I have seen the AB here one time -- a faint pink flourish to the north that was identified in the paper the next day as AB.

Apparently the last couple days the earth has been hit with a very heavy solar wind, stirring up protons and electrons in our magnetosphere (that's why there's been more static on the radio, maybe?) and tonight may be one of the better opportunities for the AB to be seen in the continental US, after midnight Eastern time.

Unlikely it'll show up here, but if you're a sky-freak, keep an eye out.

jenna2891 · October 4th, 2006, 03:48 PM

hey zenny, can you let us know by posting if you see it tonight? i'd love to see it but i know i wouldn't get a good view from my house.

AZZenny · October 4th, 2006, 04:10 PM

If the sky clears up, I'll check on it every half hour or so and announce if I see anything -- but it's doubtful. Sigh. I ought to take a vacation to the Yukon some late summer.