#aurora

psychmesu@diaspora.glasswings.com

https://vmst.io/@WestportObservatory/113375307995062785 WestportObservatory@vmst.io - AN X-CLASS DOUBLE SOLAR FLARE: Solar activity remains high with an X-class double solar flare on Oct. 26th. The explosion hurled an impressive CME into space, and it appears to have an Earth-directed component. Several big sunspots are turning toward Earth, so this could be the beginning of a week of stormy space weather. Also, a CME grazed Earth today, 10/26. The impact was weak, barely increasing solar wind speeds near Earth. High-latitude auroras are possible tonight. Spaceweather.com

Image: An M9.5-X1.8 class double flare on Oct. 26th.

#CME #Aurora #SolarFlare #Spaceweather

ramnath@nerdpol.ch

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RARE #BLUE #AURORAS CAUSED BY RESONANT SCATTERING: The severe geomagnetic storm of Sept. 16-17 produced something that even longtime #aurora watchers rarely see: Blue Auroras. "I photographed them at dawn on Sept. 17th," says Alan Dyer, who sends this picture from Gleichen, #Alberta:

Auroras are usually green and red. Blue is very unusual. It takes a strong geomagnetic storm to produce them -- plus one extra ingredient. "High altitude sunlight was hitting the blue rays," explains Dyer.

The process is called "resonant scattering." At the top of the aurora zone, ionized nitrogen molecules (N2+) naturally produce blue light. The blue glow is usually too faint to see. However, when these ions get hit by morning sunlight, they capture and re-emit photons from the sun, amplifying the blue color

https://spaceweather.com/

ramnath@nerdpol.ch

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AFTERGLOW OF A CME: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Aug. 17th, sparking a brief but strong (G3) geomagnetic storm. The timing was bad for sky watchers in Europe and North America, where daylight washed out a widespread aurora display. The fading afterglow, however, was visible after nightfall from Poland:

"This is the third night with #aurora this week!" says photographer Marek Nikodem. "This is at latitude +53N."

Frequent mid-latitude auroras are a sign that Solar Maximum has arrived. A severe (G4) storm on August 11-12 sent auroras rippling across North America as far south as Mississippi and Texas. Because Solar Max typically lasts for 2 to 3 years, many more displays can be expected between now and 2026.

https://spaceweather.com/