Looks like there is a chance that tomorrow night will be a good chance for viewing the aurora borealis for some people:
http://earthsky.org/space/aurora-alert-sun-is-waking-up
Aww, I was hoping this was more of a heads-up like “Testing '20’s-style Tesla death-ray beam17b at 23:04 CDT-- watch for aurora borealis, ignition of atmosphere also possible.”
Seriously, though. As the son of a dedicated solar astrophysicist, I agree that this could be pretty cool.
Folks, if you don’t want to be a nighttime astronomer when you grow up, just look at the sun.
(sorry)
I’m kind of expecting all the cell phones to stop working, myself.
Relax. When the cell phones and communications networks go down, the aliens will attack, using the Aurora as cover on their approach. So it’ll still be cool.
Boo, going to be cloudy tonight and tomorrow. 
Or a radio astronomer, or an X-ray astronomer, or heck, just a professional astronomer. 
Will it be localized in your kitchen?
What latitudes can we expect the aurora to reach?
I’m hearing that it may be visible as far south as 38.
“It’s just the northern lights, mother!”
Sadly, that is the second thing I thought of when I heard this on the news today*. The first was, “wow, cool!” They are predicting mostly cloudy weather here but I will probably go out for a look anyway.
What time is supposed to be best for viewing? I heard one report say after midnight was best but I heard another say the moon would be rising around midnight so earlier would be better.
*It’s a Simpsons reference.
Currently the estimated planetary K-index is only 6, which is not quite high enough for the aurora to be seen here in Chicago. It MIGHT be visible on the north horizon in dark sky areas.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/k-index.html
No sightings reported yet here: http://www.spacew.com/www/aurora.php
I have at least a slim chance, from what I hear. It’s certainl clear enough, and I’m pretty far north. I’ll have to give it a shot. It would be really cool if I could, I’ve never seen them.
No chance down here at all.
Here’s a page mapping K-index required for visibility in the USA.
Similar predictions are being made for the aurora australis in Tasmania and southern New Zealand.
Similar K-index maps here for the whole world and other info: Tips on viewing the aurora
Scroll down to “Kp maps of midnight equatorward boundaries”.
The probabilities of storms for the next few days are higher than usual, but not all that high. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/forecast.html
VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 04 Aug-06 Aug
A. Middle Latitudes
Active 40/30/25
Minor storm 20/40/10
Major-severe storm 05/20/05
B. High Latitudes
Active 45/15/25
Minor storm 25/45/15
Major-severe storm 10/35/01
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/08/_nasaap_an_x-ra.html?p1=Upbox_links
This is from a Boston paper so I assume those are east coast times.
I think I could die happy if I ever saw the fabled Northern Lights. I’ve wanted to see them since I was a kid reading Jack London. Hell, I lived for a long time in South Dakota and never saw them. I guess I’m fated to never see them.