Keep your eyes peeled for Auroa

[Vermin (Tom)]

There's just been another major X class x-ray flare. Not sure if it's aimed at Earth yet.

The effects of the last one seem to be just arriving.

The KP index has just reached 5 (Aurora possible) .

POES South does not look promising though it is starting to liven up.

I'll keep you posted if these clouds don't close in.

[Vermin (Tom)]

Very faint rays to the south (probably not visible from the city).

Going to dark site now.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Not Fair. We are clouded in down here. But I will keep a look out in case the clouds break.

[Vermin (Tom)]

Just got back. It was very unimpressive, just a faint green glow to the south. Got a couple of pics to post tomorrow night if they turn out (bed time).

Maybe the next flare will hit us front on.

[iceman (Mike)]

You storm chasing Tom?

Would be very nice to see aurora.. maybe a trip to Tassie is warranted in the next few years.

[Vermin (Tom)]

Sure am. I got bit by the aurora bug last November.

From reading local forums last night seems to have picked up about 3am here (long after I went to bed).

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

just received this email from Aurora alert (around
mid day on 18 jan)

SUBJ: IPS AURORA ALERT
ISSUED AT 0120 UT on 18 Jan 2005 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE


GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS. AURORA MAY BE OBSERVED
DURING LOCAL NIGHT TIME HOURS IN GOOD OBSERVING CONDITIONS
AT HIGH LATITUDES.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Very good seeing tonight. I am keeping an eye out for Aurorers tonight till about 3am.

Are they still predicted for tonight?

[Vermin (Tom)]

Maybe, but it has clouded over here.

MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WARNING
Extended: 13:50 UTC on 18 January 2005
Solar Terrestrial Dispatch
www.spacew.com


VALID BEGINNING AT: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
VALID UNTIL: 23:00 UTC (6 pm EST) ON 20 JANUARY

HIGH RISK PERIOD: 18-19 JANUARY (UTC DAYS)
MODERATE RISK PERIOD: 18-20 JANUARY

PREDICTED ACTIVITY INDICES: 80, 100, 30, 12 (18 - 21 JANUARY)

POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY: HIGH

POTENTIAL DURATION OF THIS ACTIVITY: MAIN BELT = 18-24 HOURS
MINOR BELT = 24-36 HOURS

ESTIMATED OPTIMUM OBSERVING CONDITIONS: NEAR OR AFTER LOCAL MIDNIGHT

EXPECTED LUNAR INTERFERENCE: LOW TO MODERATE

OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM MIDDLE LATITUDES: GOOD

AURORAL ACTIVITY *MAY* BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM...
(THIS LINE IS VALID *ONLY* IF FAVORABLE STORM CONDITIONS OCCUR)

EXTREME NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO NORTHERN NEVADA TO UTAH TO COLORADO TO
SOUTHERN KANSAS AND NORTHERN OKLAHOMA TO ARKANSAS TO TENNESSEE TO SOUTH
CAROLINA.

ACTIVITY *MAY* ALSO BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM...
(THIS LINE IS VALID *ONLY* IF FAVORABLE STORM CONDITIONS OCCUR)

NORTHERN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL TO SOUTHERN FRANCE TO ITALY TO ROMANIA TO
UKRAIN TO SOUTHERN RUSSIA.

SYNOPSIS...

What may be the strongest coronal mass ejection yet observed from active
sunspot region 10720 is due to impact the Earth late on 18 or early on 19
January (UTC time, which is equivalent to the late afternoon or evening hours
over North America today). Tonight may be the best opportunity for observers
to see periods of auroral activity. If predictions hold true, periods of
major to severe auroral storm activity will materialize sometime after the
disturbance arrives. This is a potentially significant event.

This warning will remain valid through 23:00 UTC (6 pm EST) on
20 January, but will probably be downgraded to a watch late on 19 or early on
20 January. For updated information, visit:
http://www.spacew.com/aurora/forum.html. For real-time plots of current
activity, visit: http://www.spacew.com/plots.html

PLEASE REPORT VALID OBSERVATIONS OF AURORAL ACTIVITY TO:
http://www.spacew.com/submitsighting.html


** End of Warning **