For those of you interested, we are supposed to be in for the best show in six months! The numbers are running off the charts! Keep you eyes open if you are in dark, clear skies tonight! Possible for some mid-tier states to see them as well!!

Space Weather

Jen,

Can't wait to see your pictures of the NORTHERN LIGHTS tomorrow or the next day.

bobo

Can't wait to see the photos! Will I be able to see them here? Or is it too far/NYC light will block it out?

Bob and Greg, you might very well get to see them! Here is the info in the email I just got:

MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WATCH UPGRADED TO A WARNING
Issued: 20:15 UTC on 07 November 2004
Solar Terrestrial Dispatch
www.spacew.com


VALID BEGINNING AT: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
VALID UNTIL: 23:00 UTC (6 pm EST) ON 10 NOVEMBER

HIGH RISK PERIOD: 07-08, THEN 09 NOVEMBER (UTC DAYS)
MODERATE RISK PERIOD: 07-10 NOVEMBER

PREDICTED ACTIVITY INDICES: 30, 45, 60, 30 (07 NOVEMBER - 10 NOVEMBER)

POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY: MODERATE TO HIGH

POTENTIAL DURATION OF THIS ACTIVITY: MAIN BELT = 12 HOURS
MINOR BELT = 18 - 24 HOURS

ESTIMATED OPTIMUM OBSERVING CONDITIONS: NEAR LOCAL MIDNIGHT

EXPECTED LUNAR INTERFERENCE: LOW AFTER LOCAL MIDNIGHT

OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM MIDDLE LATITUDES: FAIR TO GOOD

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

NORTHERN OREGON TO NORTHERN UTAH TO WYOMING TO NEBRASKA TO NORTHERN
MISSOURI TO ILLINOIS TO KENTUCKY TO VIRGINIA.

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

NORTHERN FRANCE TO CENTRAL GERMANY TO CENTRAL POLAND TO BELARUS TO
CENTRAL
RUSSIA.

NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTHERN REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA MAY ALSO OBSERVE PERIODS OF
ACTIVITY.

SYNOPSIS...

A moderately strong solar disturbance impacted the Earth near 18:27 UTC
on 07 November. This disturbance was larger than anticipated and is
producing
periods of enhanced auroral activity. More significant storm-level auroral
activity is expected over the next 12 to 18 hours as this disturbance
matures. Widespread observations of auroral activity may be possible
tonight.

Another potentially strong disturbance could arrive on 09 November.
Analysis of the solar event is still in-progress. We expect the latter half
of the UTC day of 08 November to be less active and then pick up again when
this next disturbance arrives.

This warning will remain valid through 23:00 UTC (6 pm EST) on
10 November. It will then be updated, downgraded to a watch or allowed to
expire altogether. 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

Hi,

I've been watching them for the past 20 minutes! I've been watching those websites that were referenced on this forum, and we've been checking the past couple of nights. This is the first time I have seen them.

Very cool! Wish the show would have waited until November 10th when Split Rock will be lit.

Enjoy the show.

Tammy

Tammy,

I don't believe that you can order command performances.

bobo

I have been out for the past half hour, shot 1 roll of film so far, very strong here south of Lake Michigan

SO COOL! The sky is dancing here south of Madison Wisconsin! I have never seen the Northern Lights before. It would be nice if they had a little more color, but this is still a first! WOW! Here I am up standing around in the park by myself at 12:45 a.m. The digital isn't working. Maybe I will have to try film.

It is now 1:30 and the lights are getting even better. I have never seen anything like this! Fantastic! My eyes are very happy!

Well, I'm in after two hours at South Haven, 80+ INCREDIBLE images, and a four point buck with my car on the way home at 70 mph and a trip to the hospital...

I'm ok, a little achy, right hand is swollen from airbag being deployed as I was stuffing chocolate in my face, and my car is trashed...1992 Chrysler Lebaron - whole front end is caved in and the hood had about 15 inches of airspace...never in my life have I doen something like this...

ALWAYS WEAR YOU SEATBELT AND keep your camera gear in a well padded, secure bag zipped up when travelling!!

So what am I doing now? Well, seeing as how I really don't want to drive anymore tonight, I think I'm going to poke around the yard with the camera a bit more while I'm waiting for the darvocet to knock me out.

Pictures tomorrow if I can move...!!

Around 2:00 a.m. it got even better! The entire sky - 360 degrees - a dome of lights dancing over my head and I just saw shades of red! WOW! And there is no one I dare call and wake up! This is fantastic!

I was right there with you, Suzanne! All 360 degrees of it! Here is a sneak peak. I really need to go to bed now...more later!!

Jen, I'm so sorry to hear about your "car vs. deer" incident. Those critters can really do some damage. Thank God you weren't seriously hurt.

We have about three or four deer hits a week in this area. Many of them are during the daylight hours. There are more and more deer with less and less places to go.

Speaking of the Northern Lights, I've only seen them once in my life. I believe it was in the mid 50's. I was out sledding with a small group of friends on a small hill across the street from the family home. I remember it was extremely cold and my Mother had already called for me to come in. It was probably around 8:00 pm when I noticed the sky had a greenish color to it. It was really different looking. I asked the folks why the sky was turning green and they told me it was the aurora borealis. I didn't understand what they were telling me but thought the whole thing was pretty cool.

Bob

Hope you are well, Jen...

Sorry about the accident. We are ALL so glad you had a vehicle with airbags!!! They probably saved my son's life in his first accident. They may have done so for you, too.

The photo you posted is FANTASTIC! Awaiting more when you are able.

I've seen the Northern Lights a few times in my life when living in Michigan. The most spectacular show was while we were in a friend's boat. The dancing green light was all over the sky like a shimmering green satin curtain overhead.

Jen,

I'm so sorry to hear about your confrontation with the deer. Sincerely hope that you are feeling a little better.

bobo

Sorry to hear about your accident Jen. Thoose deer can really cause a lot of damage and in some cases serious injury. Your picture is great. Looking forward to seeing more. Are the northern lights just in your area or is there a possibility of seeing them here in New England? I would love to see them.

Bert

Suzanne,

You can call me.

bobo

Jen, sorry to hear about your accident, hopefully you'll be as good as new in a day or two.

I didn't read this thread until about 10pm and went out to see if it was visible, it was! we had compleatly clear skies last night, it was very bright and strong to the east and west and often went from one horizon to the other straight overhead, by 11:30 it had died down but I had 1 1/2 rolls of pictures by then, hopefully over the next few days I can finnish the roll if the storms persist.

Jen, glad you are OK other than some bouncing around. Hope you aren't too sore to share some more pictures.

I'll be looking forward to seeing everyones pictures of the lights.

Jen...I hope you are resting today after your encounter with the deer. Very scary.

On the positive side, we all can't wait to see more of your outstanding photos. Take care.

I'm a bit sore...expected after a 70 mph impact.

On the plus side, it looks like I've made the local Kalamazoo news station website! They might even feature my image on tonight's 5pm news broadcast - they have a segment called, "Picture the Weather" where they feature an image sent in by a viewer. I was fortunate enough to have one featured last November with a gale storm that passed through. Here is the link to the article:

Channel 3 News Aurora Borealis Article

Great photos, Jen! I looked out the window last night for the lights, but didn't go outside to look.

Sorry to hear about your car. I have had the same experience with my dad's '92 BMW. All of a sudden, it's just BANG. We were barely able to limp home (the wing had bent down onto the wheel, making it hard to turn it), thankfully we were only about a mile from home.

We seem to get a bunch of hits around here, being in the middle of the woods. And the fact that half of the stay-at-home moms in my town can't drive their Yukon XXXXXXXXL for their life. I can go on for hours about the abnormal people who live here. :rolleyes:

Woo-hoo! Not only did my image make the 6pm prime news slot, they did a special segment on the aurora borealis and featured some video and my picture!!! I am going to try and perhaps get a computer video made and if I succeed, I will have one available to email if anyone is interested in seeing it.

I feel SPECIAL!!

Jen,

Great photo! Congratulations on making the Kalamazoo news station website. Very cool! Sorry to hear about your accident. (I hit a deer in 1982, but it wasn't very big. I don't care much for driving in the dark in areas where deer are common.) Is your new camera OK? By the way, how does the 10D compare to the Rebel? Looking forward to seeing more of your photos!

We actually had our best show here very early in the evening. We went back out @ 8 pm, and nothing was happening. The colors started again around 9 pm. However, they weren't dancing like they were earlier in the evening. We went to be around 11 pm. I got up again @ 12:30 pm and again @ 3:30. By then, it was cloudy.

Tammy

Jen,

That's because you are. CONGRATULATIONS. Now you are famous.

bobo

Our "Special Star!"

Congrats, Jen.

Hey what was the exposure information on that photo you posted here?

Gee guys, thanks. John, that one from South Haven was ISO 400, 20 seconds at F6.3.

I now have the news broadcast available for viewing if anyone wants to see it. It's in AVI format, about 1 minute, and the file is 9MB in size. If you have Windows XP, you can view it with no software needed. Please email me if you would like to see it and I will send it to you. I don't have any webspace in which to host it at the moment, so email will have to do.

Great picture Jen, Hey JC wouldn't that make a great forum photo. A numbered print of that would look great with the others I have..

I have never seen the Northern lights before. But Diana and the kids saw it a few years ago in Show Low. Extremely rare to see it in Arizona, but it does happen. Of course I was out of town at the time.

Dale

John, I'm up for filling in those shoes again this year, if you promise to get me an address list sooner! *TEASE* The Aurora Over South Haven would make an awesome print...

Jen,

And I'll buy one.

bobo