Go outside tonight and look up.

[Tec]

Been waiting on this email since I saw it in the news yesterday.

An event on the Sun occurred on the 7th of June.  Prompt arrival of high speed particles has already affected the atmosphere.  Our model indicates that the shock wave will reach Earth on the 8th of June around 5pm GMT.  This will be followed by a disturbance in the solar wind that should produce fairly extensive auroral displays within 24 hr after that time.

For the Northern Hemisphere, the aurora should be visible mainly in North America, since the sun is illuminating most of the auroral zone in Russia and Scandinavia.  If the timing is right, the disturbance will lead to auroras visible from the Northern US on the night of the 8th.

Antarctica will see the display even beginning with the shock arrival on the 8th. For Tasmania and Southern New Zealand it will be the 9th.

It is difficult to predict what the K index will be during night of the 8th in North America, but it is reasonable to expect K=6 which would put the aurora over Milwaukee, and visible on the northern horizon on a line from Portland Ore, southern Nebraska, southern Indiana, to Washington, DC.

Go to the auroral forecast page at:  http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast
and watch the Short Term (1 hr) forecast.  It will increase when the arrival of the disturbance is one hour away. It will also show you whether you can see the aurora from your vantage point, if you choose the map that shows your location.

If you are north of 55 deg latitude, it may be too light to see the aurora at night.  Let us know of your success or failure and we will amend the section on the auroral forecast page called "Viewing the aurora in the Northern Summer".

[grizz441]

Hmm at says on a line down to southern nebraska (that's me!).  I wonder when I should look up? 

[Tec]

I find the time between when it gets dark out and when it gets light out again to be best for viewing.

[grizz441]

I find the time between when it gets dark out and when it gets light out again to be best for viewing.

Oh hey thanks, that's really helpful Tec. 

[M0nkey_Man]

I find the time between when it gets dark out and when it gets light out again to be best for viewing.

[oakranger]

So, what time will this occuer.  I am about 200 mile south of grizzy boy. 

[grizz441]

I just read around midnight will be best viewing time.

[PFactorDave]

I spend a few weeks in Northern Wisconsin every summer.  It's not uncommon to see the Aurora Borealis on a clear night when we are out late walleye fishing.

Very cool.  Worth taking a look if you are in an area that can see it.

[oakranger]

I just read around midnight will be best viewing time.

Thanks mate.   

[saggs]

Might have to break out the old Pentax 6x7 and some Velvia tonight.   

[PFactorDave]

Might have to break out the old Pentax 6x7 and some Velvia tonight.   

Film...  I haven't shot a roll of film for years.  I kind of miss it sometimes.

[gyrene81]

can't see squat out tonight...heavy thunderstorms  

[saggs]

Film...  I haven't shot a roll of film for years.  I kind of miss it sometimes.

Yeah, I don't much either.  I sold my last 35mm SLR a few years back.  But I've held onto the big Pentax 6x7, still use it w/ Velvia for some landscapes & stuff, and once in a while some Kodak Portra NC for natural light portraits.     Something about it I just love.

I'd love to photograph the Aurora tonight, if the predictions are correct it will be visible here, I even know just the place to get the perfect foreground, unfortunately it's still overcast as of right now.   

[grizz441]

Cloudy here.

[oakranger]

Cloudy here.

It dose not look like it on the satellite.  are you still in Lincoln, Ne?