Possible Aurora tonight and next few nights.

[bvar22]

Solar activity is very high.
Earth-orbiting satellites have detected seven X-class solar flares since Sept. 7th, including one X17-class monster-flare. NOAA forecasters say there's a 75% chance of more X-flares during the next 24 hours, possibly causing radio blackouts and radiation storms.

The source of all this activity is giant sunspot 798, shown above flaring brightly on Sept. 9th
(photo credit: Birgit Kremer of Marbella, Spain).


SunSpot 798 will be rotation toward the Earth over the next few days, and the solar wind should intensify.



An S2-class radiation storm is underway.
Solar protons are streaming past Earth at nearly light speed.
These particles were accelerated toward us by the recent explosions at sunspot 798.

(OMG!!!The Sun is LEAKING!!!!)



Auroral Activity Indicator

The above pic auto-updates. The red arrow points toward the sun.
When central Minnesota is in the ORANGE to RED area, conditions are GOOD for a visible Aurora display.

September IS the best month for visible AURORAS.
If you are outside tonight, LOOK UP, especially after midnight.
The forecast is for CLEAR SKIES and a waxing moonset at 10:38PM.

LOOK UP!!!

[rateyes]

1. Being here in the south...

wished I was in Minnesota to see it...and to see the Vikes! If you get any pics, I'd love to see them. Thanks.

[bvar22]

6. "Conditions are right" doesn't guarantee, most times its a "no show"

The predictors are better at forecasting when there will be NO Aurora so don't bother to look. These predictors only tell us that there might be a visible Aurora.

Last May, there was a great show that was observed as far south as mid-Texas and Arizona.

[ClayZ]

2. I will be looking up!

The first time I saw them was while watching a great band at a Bluegrass Festival in Alaska. This man just walked through the crowd and patted each person on the back, cupped his hand to our ears and said... "LOOK UP". I have never been more astounded!

[orpupilofnature57]

3. I live in upstate N.Y. I think it's 38 Degrees north , can we see?

My brother and his family live in Andover MN , will they be able to see it?

[bvar22]

7. If there is a GOOD show, you can easily see from NY State.

Last May there was an Aurora that was observed as far south as Texas and Arizona. "The conditions are right" does NOT guarantee a show. Most of the time, there is not much visible. Auroras are capricious, which makes catching one all the more exciting.
Good Luck!
It IS worth the effort.

[dpbrown]

4. And to the north

Eh?

[Graf Orlok]

5. I'll be out tonight.

I'm from the country in West-Central Minnesota, so I always have excellent viewing conditions. I'm sure I'll see a spectacular show.

Man...the Perseids last month were amazing from where I was!

[bvar22]

8. There were reports of visible aurora Sat night from Minneapolis.

I was watching from St Paul, and didn't see anything.

2005-09-11 06:10:00 UTC: N44.25 W93.75 - minneapolis, MN
Briefly noticed aurora while attending hurrican relief concert at the Cabooze. Don't know how long it was going on or if it's still ongoing. Moderately bright green aurora about 30 degrees elevation to the North.



2005-09-11 06:11:00 UTC: N47.25 W98.25 - Grand Forks, North Dakota
I've never seen aurora like this in the 10 years I have lived here, my previous hometown being rural Anchorage, Alaska. Like green lightning in the sky, I had to assure my friends that they were merely witnessing a heavenly show.


2005-09-11 10:41:00 UTC: N45 W89 - Eagle River, WI
It was going on when I got up about 4:00 am central, started out with plenty of movement right past zenith, high beams with some visible red, lots of curtain movement and continued on until it became too bright this morning to see--great show!




GOOD NEWS....Tonight the conditions are even better.
BAD NEWS....Clouds moving In!

[bvar22]

9. Pictures from Sat. night.

Brian Jolley,
Park City, Utah



Karl Kuehn,
Greene, NY



Lyndon Anderson,
15 miles north of Bismarck, North Dakota.



Ryan Finkbiner,
Minot, North Dakota




Paul L Meisel,
Ward County, North Dakota


Most of Minnesota is overcast tonight.
Tonight's show may be a fizzle anyway.
Not much happening on the Aurora Observation Network website.
http://www.spacew.com/www/auroras.php

Don't fret.
The forecast conditions are OPTIMUM for the next 4 nights.

[MnFats]

10. and here I thought I was the only that found this stuff interesting....

thanks for the pix.
will stroll out later and have a look.