Auroras

[rjd]

It wasnt clear enough, very hazy, and with a full moon making it almost daylight out there way too bright.

[Asher]

I live out towards darfield and it would have been dark enough to see, i stayed up till midnight and saw nothing

[rjd]

"The impact of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) sparked a moderate (Kp=6) geomagnetic storm, which is currently in progress. Conditions are becoming favorable for high-latitude auroras. If the storm lasts till this evening then there is a chance that aurora may be seen from the southern South Island."

[rjd]

http://spaceweather.com/submissions/...1331848868.jpg

[Adam]

looks like some people got a good show!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/660...ular-sky-stuns

[rjd]

Bah down to wanaka tomorrow but weather looks rough

[SteveB]

There seems to be a splurge of aurora pictures showing from the folks up north at the moment. If you're down south and up late, it may pay to take a peek outside with that big high sitting over the country and no moon.

[rjd]

not looking overly special right now?

[weap10]

Goddamn missed it again.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/71218...n-in-Southland

[rjd]

Yep, knew we were on for something sunday night but it was all cloudy

[weap10]

Let us know next time Rob!

It was clear as down here, I wasn't out for a look because I'd been out freezing my t*ts off the night before with some mates.

[rjd]

Ok will do, I usually do post somethign up on here but I heard about it so far out then forgot about it

[rjd]

INCOMING CME: On July 4th, sunspot AR1515 hurled at least four minor CMEs into space. Most flew south of the ecliptic plane (the orbital plane of the planets), on track to miss everything. One of them, however, appears to be heading toward Earth. Click to view an animated forecast track of the incoming cloud:

According to analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, who prepared the forecast, the cloud will reach Earth on July 7th around 0600 UT. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras on that date

So thats 6pm Sat 7th for us.

[wirehunt]

Gone cloudy now.

[mrfinster]

Sweet, good job I knocked off work and went down the pub then

[rjd]

Typical..

Huge chance for aurora this sat night, this could be the big one...

CME Arrival Time: 2012-07-14 10:20:38.0 GMT
Arival Time Confidence Level: ± 6 hours
Disturbance Duration: 8 hours
Disturbance Duration Confidence Level: ± 8 hours
Magnetopause Standoff Distance: 4.6 Re

[mrfinster]

I think it will be a bit cloudy for the next few days....

[rjd]

Yeah isnt that always the case...!

If there is clear sky then get out, this should light up most of the S island I think.

[SteveB]

The sunspot that caused it is huge and can be seen unaided if you have a suitable filter like welders glass. I just went to photograph it but the clouds rolled in right on cue.

[mrfinster]

I'll be in the pub all night anyway

[pearlyred]

Need to get up to the hills for a decent view?

[rjd]

Depends, relatively clear view south then anywhere

[weap10]

Cheers for the heads up. Fingers crossed for a break in the clouds tomorrow night.

Watching that forecast track animation is pretty trippy.

[mrfinster]

The forecast gave me flashbacks

I went up Mt Hutt tonight, as far as I could get, probably 1000m high, couldn't see a thing and couldn't get above the cloud.

Will it be around tomorrow night still? the weather's looking clear.

[weap10]

Taken 5min ago. in Te Anau

I can't see it but my camera can. 30 sec exp. Hopefully it gets better