Aurora potentially visible under clear skies tonight

_Whimsical_ · 17-03-2015 4:52pm #1

Irish Weather Facebook is saying there's aurora potential tonight under clear skies in Ireland. Any opinions on the likelihood or where might get the best view if it comes to pass?
Beautiful blue skies all day in Galway, hope it's good elsewhere.

The prediction is based on this :
Severe Weather Europe
AURORAL ACTIVITY WARNING! A severe G4-class geomagnetic storm is underway in response to a CME impact. Auroras may be visible as far south as the central France, Alps, Slovakia, Ukraine across Europe.

11061253_1651619521727809_4773190402332949340_n.png?oh=4f4f9e8b892eef017dd4c8f5e8e4d337&oe=55B13D96

11061253_1651619521727809_4773190402332949340_n.png?oh=4f4f9e8b892eef017dd4c8f5e8e4d337&oe=55B13D96

https://www.facebook.com/severeweatherEU/photos/a.1423656947857402.1073741825.1377757209114043/1651619521727809/?type=1

John mac · 17-03-2015 5:21pm

http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/

good page to keep an eye on .

maquiladora · 17-03-2015 5:30pm

Impressive. Just 0.3 shy of a G5 (extreme) storm.

Very intense aurora over Alaska at the moment. Beautiful.

CATvrtRUgAAN2gU.jpg:large

Rikand · 17-03-2015 5:56pm

John mac wrote: »

http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/

good page to keep an eye on .

That's awesome!

Full coverage over Ireland if we're lucky to still have it going at nightfall and have clear skies

maquiladora · 17-03-2015 6:28pm

Rikand wrote: »

That's awesome!

Full coverage over Ireland if we're lucky to still have it going at nightfall and have clear skies

Keep an eye on the forecast here (and check out the cool playback) as the aurora isn't evenly distributed.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/30-minute-aurora-forecast

Update from Solarham

Sky watchers across Northern Europe, the UK and Scandinavia should experience brilliant aurora displays this evening.

vickers209 · 17-03-2015 8:26pm

Would it be visable as far south as dublin/wicklow

fits · 17-03-2015 8:58pm

Was very strong here in Finland. Could see it from city centre. Gone quiet now.

fits · 17-03-2015 9:02pm

Oh no actually it isn't at all. Sky is completely lit up! Amazing display!

Skud · 17-03-2015 9:29pm

http://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/auroral-activity/webcams

unreal!

dirtyghettokid · 17-03-2015 9:43pm

went out with the camera just there... i did see something but i'm not sure what it is. copying stuff off the card now.. will post a pic as soon as i can.

i'm in north county dublin btw, not too far from the naul

there's clear sky when you look up, but near the horizon is foggy type haze

maquiladora · 17-03-2015 9:45pm

Should be visible over the north now if there's any clear weather.

dirtyghettokid · 17-03-2015 9:49pm

faint aurora for paddys day? by dgk905, on Flickr

NIKON D7100 / ISO 640 / f/3.5 / 18mm / 20sec exposure

thecretinhop · 17-03-2015 9:51pm

I assume you should be looking North for this?

Rock Lesnar · 17-03-2015 9:57pm

Skies are clear here, cant see a thing

sunbeam · 17-03-2015 9:58pm

Seems to be a faint band of light in the northern hemisphere here in Achill now, unfortunately semi-obscured by cloud.

deise08 · 17-03-2015 10:01pm

Nothing but cloud in Waterford

fits · 17-03-2015 10:01pm

Keep looking. Its coming and going here all the time. Rarely a better chance to catch it in Ireland I reckon.

Rikand · 17-03-2015 10:02pm

rarely a better chance, except for the big swathe of cloud across the middle of the country

Never get to see anything good in the midlands!

sunbeam · 17-03-2015 10:03pm

Now a few streaming pillars of light, but still very faint. Still, I haven't seen this for years so won't complain.

dirtyghettokid · 17-03-2015 10:05pm

whatever's there is very faint

first two taken on 5d mark ii / 24-105mm @ 24mm / f/4 / 20sec exposure / iso 2000

faint sky by dgk905, on Flickr

faint sky by dgk905, on Flickr

nikon D7100 / 18mm / f/2.5 / 20 sec exposure / iso 640

faint sky by dgk905, on Flickr

Calina · 17-03-2015 10:36pm

Sky to the north has a blanket of mist. As the sky is clear straight overhead it's frustrating.

thecretinhop · 17-03-2015 11:05pm

Just saw it in Galway very cool!! Very faint should be better later when it gets darker Green shimmer very very faint but visible

mel.b · 17-03-2015 11:10pm

thecretinhop wrote: »

Just saw it in Galway very cool!! Very faint should be better later when it gets darker Green shimmer very very faint but visible

I'm looking north towards Galway but have the faint lights of the city on my horizon. Not sure if i will see anything but this has given me hope

thecretinhop · 17-03-2015 11:14pm

Yep lucky here no real light facing north. Earlier it was just a green blur, but now it's a shimmering pale band above horizon very cool. very very faint but amazing to see. Will try to get photos if possible

mel.b · 17-03-2015 11:18pm

thecretinhop wrote: »

Yep lucky here no real light facing north. Earlier it was just a green blur, but now it's a shimmering pale band above horizon very cool. very very faint but amazing to see. Will try to get photos if possible

Awesome

sadly i can't think of anywhere within a reasonable driving distance that will give me a view if the horizon without having the galway lights in it

_Whimsical_ · 17-03-2015 11:26pm

thecretinhop wrote: »

Just saw it in Galway very cool!! Very faint should be better later when it gets darker Green shimmer very very faint but visible

Where in Galway are you?

I'm really sick tonight, can't go out, can hardly stay awake but definitely cannot go to sleep if there's a vague chance of seeing the aurora from my window. Seeing it is top of my bucket list!

thecretinhop · 17-03-2015 11:30pm

Claregalway away from town away from city. very faint going out soon again, will report in. looking north over curragh line, hence no light pollution. Pretty sure Galway city lights would ruin view, if it gets stronger later perhaps ok.

_Whimsical_ · 17-03-2015 11:36pm

thecretinhop wrote: »

Claregalway away from town away from city. very faint going out soon again, will report in. looking north over curragh line, hence no light pollution. Pretty sure Galway city lights would ruin view, if it gets stronger later perhaps ok.

Ah I'm in the city. Still I predict a night of being glued to the window.

I hope you see more where you are.

sunbeam · 17-03-2015 11:57pm

Skies have cleared a bit here. Now there is a large pale arc of light sitting quietly above the northern horizon, with some mist beneath it. I was really hoping for a better show but suppose it is early in the night yet.

mel.b · 18-03-2015 12:06am

Sadly i've given up for the night. A combination of light pollution and clouds i think means i'm highly unlikely to see anything ðŸ˜Ÿ good luck to those staying up & looking

sunbeam · 18-03-2015 12:14am

And we have liftoff!

Faint beams are now aiming upwards....

Aurora potentially visible under clear skies tonight

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