For Skywatchers, Astrophiles, and Sun Lovers...

[Delphyne]

    This topic is for those who love the Stars, the Solar System, and other sky events.  This may include solar flares, meteors, UFOs (yes, even those), Aurora, clouds, and anything that may pertain to Space.

If you are not interested in these things, please do not post here.  It will only take up space. 


Some interesting news:  The Sun became a bit more active last night, with a "farside" sunspot group producing what is known as a full-halo CME (Coronal Mass Ejection).  The CME, being on the farside, is not earth direct.  However, an earth-direct beta-gamma-delta sunspot group did produce an M flare.

These events (plus Coronal Hole Winds) are responsible for the stunning displays of Aurora Borealis and Australis. 

Additionally, there is reputable research from many astrophysicists, medical doctors, and other scientists which shows that humans on earth do feel the effects of Solar Activity, in the form of physical illness, pain, depression, anxiety, and seizures.  Among other things.

And, as the Sun is the primary energy source for the planet, these events have been known to black out radios, cause disturbances in the ionosphere and magnetosphere, and mess with satellites.

Here are some pics of the CME and a wonderful photo of Aurora taken by some lucky fellow in the high northern latitudes.






More Celestial News:  Three comets will be making their appearance this year.  Comets Panstarrs, Lemmon, and ISON will be giving skywatchers an amazing treat.  So far ISON is still far away, but is due to make a much-anticipated appearance later this year when it will be brighter (brighter, folks, NOT Bigger) than the moon in late in November and December.

Comet Lemmon and Comet Panstarrs have been visible in the Southern Hemispher, however Comet Panstarrs will be visible to the Northern Hemisphere in just a few days. 

Below I have included an easy to follow viewing guide.






If you would like to report or share some interesting sky event, feel free to do it here.  Again, this thread is only for those who are interested in and take pleasure in this sort of thing.  If you want more information, please ask.  But do not be negative.  That simply will not be tolerated.

 

[Delphyne]

A fantastic movie from CACTUS showing the farside CME from yesterday. 




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqRnQsyoOLA&feature=youtu.be

[Delphyne]

Comet Panstarrs will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere, officially, starting March 7th.  At that time, it will be very low on the horizon.  Best viewing will be on the 12th and 13th!

Be on the watch!

[Delphyne]

Comet Panstarrs is now officially visible in the Northern Hemisphere.  It is still a bit difficult to see, with the best viewing times coming around the 12th.

If looking, the comet will be visible on the western horizon just after sunset.        

[Delphyne]

Comet Panstarrs.  This was taken by a photographer in Malaysia. 

The best viewing times for North America will be in just a few days!

[Delphyne]

From Spaceweather:

"Today, March 10th, Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) is making its closest approach to the sun. Inside the orbit of Mercury, the comet is getting hit with solar rays about ten times more intense than we experience on Earth. This is causing the comet to brighten as it moves into the skies of the northern hemisphere."

There are a number of reports coming in from across the nation about this comet now being visible.  A person in New Jersey snapped an awesome picture just after sunset. 

[Delphyne]

Many people in North American have been getting good views of Comet Panstarrs.  Most people *do* need binoculars, because it is small and hard to see.

Also, yesterday the sun was a bit more active, but still quite low for nearing Solar Max.  (Since the sunspot count has been so low, NASA has revised their Solar Max predictions.)

There were a few solar flares yesterday, including a gorgeous filament eruption.  In a couple days, one of the Coronal Mass Ejections will impact earth's magnetic field.  This may cause communication issues, GPS errors, sudden ionospheric disturbances, etc.  These would be minor issues.  Below is an image from NASA's STEREO B-COR2 satellite showing the plasma eruption from the sun.  It is the glowing "bulge" on the right side.





This is a composite image of the sun, courtesy SDO, showing the bright filament eruption (looks like an orange-rosy burst in the center).







Additionally, the earth will be entering a coronal hole wind stream within a matter of hours.  The CME will arrive shortly after that.


 

[Delphyne]

Over the past 24 hours, the Sun has become a bit busier.  There was a moderate M class flare, which produced a CME.  The CME will have an impact on earth, but the effects will be minimal, most likely.  (Maybe some GPS errors, stuff like that.)

These are the events that produce aurora borealis (northern lights). 

The blue image is a composite from SDO showing the M1 flare.  The other image is from NASA and shows the CME (the bright area on the right) which was released.

According to ENLIL, the CME will impact earth on St. Patrick's Day.  The awesome thing about this is that most aurora is green.  So the people in the northern latitudes will have a St. Patrick's Day sky show!


M1 Flare:





CME:




ENLIL CME tracker showing impact on the 17th.



Please note, that I paused the ENLIL image on the 16th, but the impact is the 17th.



 

[dcrotteau]

Love this thread!! I have always, since I was a little girl, loved sky watching.  Here in the north we can see the Northern Lights from time to time and they are just stunningly, breathtaking.  Love it.Thanks for starting this thread!!

[Delphyne]

Love this thread!! I have always, since I was a little girl, loved sky watching.  Here in the north we can see the Northern Lights from time to time and they are just stunningly, breathtaking.  Love it.Thanks for starting this thread!!

Thank you so much for the input.  The good news for you, then, is that you just might see them on St. Patrick's day or the following day.  (Coronal Mass Ejections may reach us +/- 7 hours than the prediction.)  NOAA is predicting a G2 class geomagnetic storm, which means as far south as New York, Minnesota (I notice you are a Vikings Fan), and Wisconsin may see the lights. 

Back in July, the lights were visible in California!  Some lucky sod got a really good picture of them from Mt. Shasta. 

This image is from Alaska, early this morning.  (Pre-dawn hours.)  This is from the CME that just hit us last night.




 

[Delphyne]

As expected, the Coronal Mass Ejection impacted earth.  We are currently experiencing a G2 magnetic storm.

These aurora pictures were taken early this morning.  The first two are from Minnesota, and the third is from Quebec.


Minnesota:








Quebec:

[batmobile]

o wow! God is a true artist! how beautiful

[Delphyne]

Fun Fact:

In the Southern Hemisphere, they also have aurora.  It is called the Aurora Australis.  This was captured this morning in Australia, due to the effects of the CME and the G2 magnetic storm.

[LuckyDeutch]

Thank you so much for this thread1 I love sky watching and have beautiful pictures of the snow moon but do not know how to post it on here! it was so beautiful! Has anyone else seen the snow moon a couple weeks ago or  and have pictures of it? If someone helps me with this, I just may be able to posts a couple pictures I have of that.

[Delphyne]

Thank you so much for this thread1 I love sky watching and have beautiful pictures of the snow moon but do not know how to post it on here! it was so beautiful! Has anyone else seen the snow moon a couple weeks ago or  and have pictures of it? If someone helps me with this, I just may be able to posts a couple pictures I have of that.

You can use imgur.com to upload photos.  Once that is done, use the insert image tab in the options when you are posting.  It is the one directly below the Italic I.  Paste the direct link in between the brackets.  You can preview the post to make sure it worked.