I posted in the G4 storm thread, but discussion there is more of a technical nature (which I enjoy). But I wanted to wax rhapsodic about what I saw last night and find out who else enjoyed the view.
I’m at 43.6 north here on the western shore of Lake Michigan, in a moderately dark zone compared to most of this area, and we saw a HELL of a show last night!
It started slow, a bit after 10 PM. I was first able to discern the flickering before my wife could. We were ensconced in the hot tub, which kept us comfy. But by 10:30 it was really show time!!
No color but white, yet it was wave upon wave of dancing light, moving across the sky, both rapidly and slowly, over at least a third of the sky. Bands of it crossing each other, flashing, appearing and disappearing, some remaining stable for a minute at a time, some flickering in and out in under a second.
We finally decided the view from the hot tub was too limiting, as the house blocked part of the sky. So we got dressed quickly and moved out to the beach. And there the show continued for another half hour or so. Finally it was slowing down by about 11:30 PM and we were chilled, so called it a night.
This is only the 3rd time I’ve seen the lights at my home, and by far the most spectacular. The Mrs. and I were both enthralled.
I’m in east-central Iowa, and drove about 20 miles out of town but didn’t see anything. I do think it may have clouded over.
A FBF who is a professional photographer said that camera phones are VERY good at picking these up, and several people have posted some spectacular pictures.
BTW, did anyone lose cell or satellite service? I heard some people did.
Here’s the freaky part. I didn’t know about the storm or expected Northern Lights, yet I had a dream about Northern Lights last night. (which I have never had before). Fireworks too, but that doesn’t seem germane to the discussion.
Cleveland, as usual, is getting a great view of the H2O Nebula. But I’ve seen the Lights seven times before (most of them while I was living in Montana), and they were different every time. Those ripply curtain things you see in photographs? Yeah, you can get that, and it really does look like that to the naked eye… but you can also get a lot of other things, too.
The first time I saw them was in Athens, OH. That time, the whole sky was changing colors, and there was an occasional thin white line that pivoted across the sky, like God’s own windshield wiper.
The second time was in Quebec, and it was green amoebas shapeshifting in the sky, and every so often disappearing and then reappearing in other spots.
Another time (I think this one was in Yellowstone) was castles of light on the horizon, with tall pointed spires. Another was a band of light across the sky, with the curtain ripples. Yet another started off like the castles, before the spires grew tall enough to join into a band.
We missed it…darn it! But it was visible here in Southern Pennsylvania, it was reported. I’ve seen the Aurora Borealis only twice in my lifetime here in these parts. Once was 50 years ago, and the second about 30 years ago. Both times were spectacular and totally unexpected.
I haz a sad. I live in Michigan (but way down S from y’all - I’m in Muskegon) however, seeing the Northern Lights is my prime #1 bucket list item.
One of these days …
(Heck, after 30 yrs in DFW I’m just happy to see so many stars on clear nights.)
I’m at 50° 27’ 17" and saw them - green sheets rippling across the sky. That’s the most common around here.
I saw some footage on YouTube of the aurora AUSTRALIS from New Zealand.
Meh. The Southern Lights are just a cheap and tawdry imitation of the real thing.
I heard on my local news that they may be visible again tonight. I will probably go out looking again. Even a vague green glow on the northern horizon is good enough for me.
It doesn’t look good for Northern Light viewing tonight. It took a KP level of 8 for me to see it in central WI, and tonight the forecast is for a KP level of 2.
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental
Looks like I’m just on the edge. And it’s semi-cloudy at the moment.
I decided not to go out to look for it, or for any other reason, after all.