Aurora tonight

[Forgey]

Get those batteries charged


The NOAA has forecast the CME to arrive between 6-9UTC. This corresponds to 4-6pm AEDT.
They are expecting it to generate G2-G3 geomagnetic storms - ie. Kp 6-7. This is relatively strong and should it occur will result in some fairly strong auroral activity.

However, it's important to note that there is always a large amount of uncertainty in both timing and strength in these forecasts. Usually the timing is given a +/- 10 hour caviat, and often the activity can lack the expected strength. The forecasts usually quote the maximum impact as they are intended to allow spacecraft operators warning to protect their hardware.

Here is the expected Kp breakdown:

NOAA Kp index breakdown Jan 08-Jan 10 2014

Jan 08 Jan 09 Jan 10

00-03UT 3 3 7 (G3)
03-06UT 3 2 6 (G2)
06-09UT 1 7 (G3) 5 (G1)
09-12UT 1 7 (G3) 4
12-15UT 2 6 (G2) 4
15-18UT 2 5 (G1) 3
18-21UT 3 6 (G2) 3
21-00UT 3 6 (G2) 3

[Paul Haese]

Paula, I have been watching the forecasts for the last few days. Looking pretty good on this one. Even the bureau of meteorology has issued a forecast for all southern states for Aurora tonight. Heard it on ABC just an hour or so ago, so it must be a good possibility.

Setting up now and getting all my gear packed for a long night. Planning on staying out till dawn as I have never seen a G3 before and the one I captured last year in June which was at KP7 was a G1 storm. This will likely be stronger again should it impact our magnetic field squarely.

So good luck to all out there going for a look. Anyone in SA wanting to catch up with me I will be on Granite Island from about 830 tonight.

[Forgey]

I'll be heading out also, looks like this one is going to be pretty good.
My last couple of efforts haven't been that great hopefully I get something decent this time.
If anyone in VIC is thinking of heading out, head to the coast or if you have a clear view to the south with little or no light pollution look to the south, I will most likely be at Flinders or there abouts.

[Octane]

Despite the cloud, I'm now leaving for Victoria, myself.

H

[Meru]

That sounds awesome Paula, I've never seen an aurora before. I'm a complete newbie to all this so please excuse the lame questions :P So it's expected to hit around 4-6pm, but with a +/- 10 hr accuracy? So hopefully if its clear tonight it would be visible to the naked eye? I'm not sure how long they last but hoping to get some images. Might take a drive down towards Arthur's seat and see what I can get

[Redshift13]

Excellent, I'm in staying on the Ninety Mile Beach at the moment - lovely dark skies, and they're clear too! Will head over to the beach later with the camera and tripod in tow.

Hopefully the wind calms down a little though, been pretty breezy along the coast the last few days.

[Forgey]

You keen H !




Seeing it won't be dark till 10-10:30pm be on the lookout from then.
As this one is predicted to be fairly strong it will be possible to be naked eye visible.

[Adelastro1]

See you down there Paul!

[rustigsmed]

Will be down at flinders or balnarring beach methinks, flinders may get busy?

[h0ughy]

good luck those that can get to see and image this!!

[acropolite]

I'll be out when it gets dark (probably around 9:30-10pm DST) with a black camera.....

I have a choice of 2 mountains within an hours drive, being a lazy bugger, I'll probably just walk to the end of the street.....:rofl:

[BPO]

Clear up here at ~2,000m asl. Hopefully my all sky cams will get a good view. If so, I'll compile a TL and up it to YouTube.

[omegacrux]

I might go to the local lookout , it has unobstructed southern views
And its clear

David

[DavidU]

I have been texting a daughter in Kilcunda to the east of Philip Island.
She will let me know if there is any action.

[acropolite]

Just slipped outside with the camera, nothing detectable ATM, although it's still far from dark.

[rustigsmed]

Still nothing down in Vic ...

[Osirisra]

Watching this test product, nothing thing hit us yet.

http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/

[Octane]

What a waste of petrol and time.

Sleeping in the car until morning as there's no petrol stations that I know of that will be open at this hour. Never been down this way before.

Did get some nice shots on the beach. Just no aurora.

H

[Forgey]

Still at Cape Schank, it it hits soon the wa guys should get it .

[Meru]

Thanks for the info Paula,

Well that certainly was disappointing. We ended up driving an hour to Arthur's seat near Rosebud but saw nothing. Atleast we got some nice pics of the beach haha

[rustigsmed]

Hi H, which beach did you go to?
I was thinking how unlucky you were driving down!!


Russ

[Paul Haese]

Stayed at granite Island until 430am and the light was starting to change. I was a little disappointed for the guys who made the effort and drove down on a work night.

However once moon set occurred i got some really nice airglow shots and another really nice sequence to add to an animation. Besides while I was doing that the observatory at Clayton was collecting data for one of my projects.

Overall a productive night.

[Octane]

Russ,

I went to Mallacoota. A beautiful spot. I had the entire beach to myself. Was a bit spooky, actually.

I called it quits around 2 AM and went back into town where there was reception, hoping to get alerts when the show started. It was a massive disappointment.

Slept in the car and made it back home in 5 hours.

I'd like to say, "never again", but, I know I'll chase again.

Besides everything, it was a beautiful night under the stars.

H

[rogerg]

We went to a nearby lake to photograph the Aurora. I'm glad I chose to not push myself too far in driving further with busy commitments on days either side, as it turned out to be a non-event. :)

I don't rate it as a disappointment though, as I always expect the unexpected with Aurora. :shrug:

[Forgey]

Well it didn't happen, I packed up up at 4:30. On the plus side got a nice little time lapse.

[Paul Haese]

H I can say I have done this heaps of times now and driving great distances for lightning and aurora. Most times it just does not come off, when it does though it is worth the euphoria and you forget all about all the times you missed out.

[Octane]

Haha, Paul, the number of fails I've had, you'd think I'd learn! Lightning, auroras, meteors, sunsets, sunrises, etc. Just never learn! :)

H

[Paul Haese]

The chase is part of the fun I reckon. Seen several aurora but only one really bright one so far. Love the chase.

[Octane]

The best part is knowing that I have a big comfy bed to come home to. That's all that keeps me going. :P

H

[gary]

Just picked up my brother-in-law from the airport who reported seeing nice auroral activity
in Iceland this week but alas they departed Thursday morning before the geomagentic
storm.

With sunrise there currently at 11am and sunset at 4pm it provides a wide window
of darkness.

[Octane]

33 days left until I leave here for there. :)

H

[gary]

Last month there was apparently shock there when Iceland police killed a person
for the first time in the nation's history.

A SWAT team arrived at an apartment in Reykjavik after shots had been fired
by a resident. A SWAT team member was hit and they responded with return fire
through a window.

The newspaper reported that "Police said they regretted the incident and wished
to express sympathy to the man’s family."

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/03/21732875-iceland-police-kill-a-man-for-the-first-time-in-the-nations-history?lite

Sounds dangerous. I will happily go for you and take a few snapshots.

[Octane]

Oh, wow; I hadn't heard about that one, Gary.

lol @ dangerous. :)

I'm starting to get excited.

H

[rustigsmed]

yep I wondering where you were going to end up H, Mallacoota .. plenty of wildlife! I actually enjoyed seeing some stars for a change, Melbourne has been terrible for about 8 months...

my one and only standard 18-55mm lens had issues so picked up the cheapest lens I could on the way home from work ... canon EF 50mm f1.8 just in case ... tried out a 4 panel stitch

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80336656@N07/11873051576/ working off the laptop so i'm sure there is a few colour / balance issues to be rectified. still ... nice to take a photo for a change!!

Russ

[Octane]

Oh, nicely done!

If you stop that one down 3 stops, it performs rather well -- it'll get rid of the chromatic abberation.

I posted one effort from last night in the nightscapes section. I'll post another tomorrow. :)

H