Potentially strong Northern Lights show tonight

masraum · 06-01-2025, 04:43 AM

I've seen a variety of maps showing the possible extent of the Aurora tonight. Some show that the extent will be the northern states, and some show that it could be possible down as far south as Dallas and the gulf coast.

917_Langheck · 917_Langheck's Garage

Looks like there was a 8.0 Kp flux at 0100 Pacific. Need more than 8.33 to see the AB show in southern California.

I track using this info center:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental

Edit: context of the above photo; taken 1930 hours, 10 October 2024, McCain Valley, ele. 4009' using an ancient Pixel 3.

masraum · 06-01-2025, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 917_Langheck

Looks like there was a 8.0 Kp flux at 0100 Pacific. Need more than 8.33 to see the AB show in southern California.

I track using this info center:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental

Interesting. I saw some what I think was about a year ago. I have no idea what stength they were. I live in a rural area with dark skies (any clear night without a full moon gives views of the milky way). WHat I saw was a pink glow at times over most of the northern sky and at other times concentrated in one spot. It was the first time that I'd ever seen them.

I've lived most of my life in the South, and a ton of it near cities or in suburbs with light pollution. When we lived in Japan in the late 70s and mid 80s I probably missed several opportunities, but I was a kid and the opportunity wasn't widely publicized like it is today.

LWJ · 06-01-2025, 05:42 PM

Funny. I was just planning my location to see if I could get "the shot." Going out with my Daughter tonight. Trying to grab a quick nap first.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Must have been quite the show.

It was raining and overcast here and at 1:30 AM I could still see the greens through the cloud cover.

We have total dark where we are so normally a decent spot to look at the night sky.

LWJ · 06-02-2025, 12:50 PM

Wife and daughter didn't want to do the effort so we stayed near in a somewhat light polluted place.

Nothing.

masraum · 06-02-2025, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Must have been quite the show.

It was raining and overcast here and at 1:30 AM I could still see the greens through the cloud cover.

We have total dark where we are so normally a decent spot to look at the night sky.

Very nice that you live someplace with nice dark skies. Bummer that you had bad weather for it, but then I suspect you've probably seen it a time or two.