Managed to catch a just-shy-of-X1-class flare a few hours ago when I put my scope out on the deck.
The complex chaos of magnetic fields — that is much, much larger than the size of Earth — designated as Region 3664 and Region 3668 (center right sunspot smudge) has been spawning a great number of flares recently, flinging an truly stupendous amount of energy and relativistic particles out into the solar system.
So some of that stupendous amount of energy and particles that Region 3664 kicked off earlier in the week is projected to arrive here on Friday night, causing a G2 geomagnetic storm.
If you live up dare in da north and it's clear out where you are (and you have a sufficiently dark sky), I highly suggest stepping outside and looking for some possible aurora in the sky. The viewline dips as far south as Chicago.
@efi@malcircuit
The sun-flung ions don‘t simply bomard directly into eath, but are deflected or captured by her magnetic field. In the latter case the ions spiral along the magnetic field lines - and thus around but not directly within the magnetic pole. Which is why there is a hole in the aurora visibility donut.
The donut is unsymmetrical, largest where the ion wave directly hits. And as it’s summer in the north which is slanted towards the sun, more impacts north.
I want to establish extra urgency to anyone living in the Seattle and (less so) Vancouver area. The weather forecast is going to be about perfect for tonight. Almost no clouds.
YOU ARE IN A PRIME AURORA VIEWING REGION. DRIVE OUT TO A DARK SKY LOCATION LATE TONIGHT (12-2AM) AND WATCH THE SHOW!!
(I have an old friend out there and I'm honestly tempted to fly out there just for tonight)
Also, much of Minnesota, including Minneapolis/St. Paul, will have prime viewing too! Anyone that lives up there should go out at around 12-2AM tonight.
THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!
I haven't been paying attention to solar activity until recently, but I get the impression that a G4 storm is kind of a big deal that doesn't happen that often. That one is happening on a Friday night is even less likely. This is probably your best chance at seeing aurora short of traveling above the Arctic Circle.
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