A patchy aurora with stretchy rays shifted about the northern sky this morning July 9 (Monday) around 1 a.m. (CDT). Details: 20mm lens at f/2.8, ISO 1250 and 25 seconds. Photo: Bob King
The Kp index of magnetic activity hit “5″ at 10 p.m. (CDT) and the auroral oval is thick across Canada. Auroras are possible tonight; keep an eye on the northern sky for any telltale green arcs or glows if you live in the northern U.S. and southern Canada. I’ll report back later.
Earlier, around 11:30 p.m. Sunday night July 8, a series of faint, parallel rays staked out the northern sky. Photo: Bob KIng
The above is what I wrote just after 10 o’clock. Once twilight faded around 11:15 p.m., the aurora was indeed at work in the northern sky, building arcs and tall, faint rays to an altitude of some 40 degrees. The display continued into the wee hours. At 1 a.m. just north of Duluth, Minn., colorless arcs and patches danced across the north to 25 degrees. They were plainly visible even with the moon up. Enjoy the pix while I enjoy some sleep.
PS. Yes, there’s a continued chance for more auroras Monday night.
What are our chances of seeing them around Jamestown, N.D.?
Hi Logan,
You in a good northern location. The main thing is find a place that has a dark sky to the north with a wide open view. The aurora’s been active all afternoon in Europe. Let’s hope it holds out into the night for North America.
I read a report from reputable scientific (climate and weather science) sources like NOAA, US Weather Service and one other place that an eruption on Friday July 6 from the giant sunspot AR15215 will cause havoc on earth for a few months in the form of severe drought throughout the middle of the nation from California to Ohio according to a map published with the report. I would also surmise that your report on aurora activity on July 8-9 is related to this recent solar storm also?
The report I read was titled “Sun erupts with summer’s strongest solar flare” by Tariq Malik in an MSNBC site on 7-6-2012.
Any insights on this solar storm????
Hi Kay,
The drought connection is not warranted. Not sure who what official would say such a thing from one flare in a particular sunspot group that essentially missed Earth. It doesn’t ring true. No one’s every tied a particular flare to drought – this sounds like speculation. I read Tariq’s article and there’s no mention of it. While uncommon, X-class flares like the one described are not unusual. We had a stronger flare in March and many more happen routinely over the 11-year solar cycle.