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thisisinsider OP t1_jd8yzij wrote

TL;DR — from the article:

  • The Northern Lights could appear in the skies over some northern US states on Friday.
  • The lights could be dazzling thanks to solar winds blowing from a giant coronal hole on the sun.
  • The lights — known as aurora borealis — may be seen as far south as Washington and Michigan.
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Andromeda321 t1_jd95611 wrote

I have a love/hate relationship with these articles because they're always an excellent guarantee that it will be far too cloudy to see anything where I live!

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arkonator92 t1_jd9vwz9 wrote

Don’t worry everyone I’m taking one for the team it’s supposed to be cloudy and rainy on Friday night we’re I live. I’m in the path of totality next year and I’d be willing to bet my life savings that it’s going to be cloudy in Cleveland on April 8th 2024.

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JustAPerspective t1_jd9w78t wrote

"The bigger the display, the steeper the mark-up." - Rule of Acquisition #287, maybe

If the flashing lights are getting brighter, the beat may be about to drop.

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ffzero58 t1_jda1kiq wrote

Do they mean Friday very AM or late PM? I didn't see any specifics.

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robotatomica t1_jda78ai wrote

Funny story, my friends had left my house super late one night and the next day they were awe-struck, describing having seen something inexplicable in the sky. Mind you, we were all atheist, but they were speaking so reverently it occurred to me they felt this was some sort of spiritual occurrence, almost like they had seen God.

I was a skeptic even then and kept asking more questions to get a better idea of what they’d seen and it became clear enough to me - “That sounds like you saw an Aurora.” They immediately shook their heads, and were insistent that couldn’t be what it was. After all, we live in the contiguous US where we basically never see them. I also didn’t think we got them down here, but it made more sense that one would anomalously occur than my buddies seeing God appear in waves of color over my house in the suburbs.

And what do you know, it was in the paper that we indeed had had the majesty of the Aurora visited upon us that night. They wouldn’t talk about it, and I never brought it up again after confirming - though I coulda strangled them for not knocking on my window to bring me outside to see it with them that night!

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SpectralMagic t1_jdafh5q wrote

Replying to JustAPerspective (#2,309,320)

Technically the sun is hotter that it ever has been, and will continue to heat up. Solar flares and other solar phenomenon will continue to be more common and more intense because it ramps up at a square exponent. Though the speed is on astronomical scales and we would never be able to detect a change within thousands of years apart(probably)

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TheRageDragon t1_jdaij4y wrote

As I check the weather for Friday, of course it's fucking raining that day.

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DanimalEClarke t1_jdam4cn wrote

Not any more north than the American boarder for some reason? Weird

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MOONDAYHYPE t1_jdammet wrote

The magnetic field is weakening due to the core slowing down

−2

MacTechG4 t1_jdaoc4u wrote

And of course it’s going to be cloudy in my area….

CURSE YOU MOTHER NATURE! (And Perry the Platypus)

I was living in Vermont when there was a big display of Northern Lights (it was somewhere between 2003-2005, I don’t remember the exact date, but it was absolutely gorgeous (much like the linked picture)

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I_Heart_Astronomy t1_jdav8b4 wrote

Replying to Andromeda321 (#2,307,252)

All the friends, family, and coworkers who know I'm into astronomy always say "are you looking forward to X?" when they hear something in the news, and I always say that there's a 95% chance it will be cloudy, so not really.

You know comet NEOWISE? Never had a single clear, moonless night when it was around. Not a single one. Most significant comet since Hale-Bopp and not a single clear night to see it at its peak. I got to see C/2022 E3 (ZTF) (the most recent notable comet) but it was nowhere near the brightness level that NEOWISE or Hale-Bopp reached. It was only just barely naked-eye. Because it was mediocre, it was clear. Had it been spectacular, it would have been cloudy.

I have been into amateur astronomy since I was a kid, and have NEVER witnessed a meteor shower at its peak time because of either the moon or clouds. That's 25 years of religiously observing the night sky and not ONCE have I had skies that were clear and moonless during the peak of a meteor shower.

So I just go out and observe when the conditions are good and I don't pay much attention to astronomical events.

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WonderWriter24 t1_jdb0rse wrote

Well this year’s birthday got so much more interesting!

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The_One_With_A_Hat t1_jdb1ydk wrote

Has anyone got any information on when/how to best view this from Australia (Victoria)?. Most of the links and resources seem to be associated with people up north!

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christmas__rose t1_jdb3jz2 wrote

Can someone explain to me please how we can know in advance that something like this will happen? Does the solar wind move much more slowly than light?

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qleptt t1_jdb53y0 wrote

Every single time WVERY TIME something like this happens it’s always in shit weather like it’s supposed to be on Friday where you cant see the sky at all at night

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mad_savant t1_jdb6cbn wrote

So... Read: big solar flare incoming

Got it i hope this wouldnt be a big disruption to our grid and networks.

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SmokyDragonDish t1_jdb8p5k wrote

Replying to frogsntoads00 (#2,308,856)

I drove from New Jersey to South Carolina to see the eclipse.

About 5 minutes before totality, this big-ass cumulus cloud covered the sun. At totality, the sun was completely covered. I could see the horizon all around, and it looked like sunset, but I couldn't see the sun.

Five minutes after totality, the cloud left.

I was soooo close...

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ShelZuuz t1_jdb9q48 wrote

Replying to I_Heart_Astronomy (#2,311,936)

Just wait until you order new Astro equipment. The week while it ships you'll have perfectly clear skies.

The day it arrives - record cloudy days for 30 straight days - just enough to extend beyond your new equipment's return window.

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bazookajt t1_jdbh5vx wrote

Replying to arkonator92 (#2,309,296)

I've been planning for this eclipse ever since I drove from Pittsburgh to SC for the last one. I'm driving about as far, although more west this time. Sure, Erie or Cleveland are a few hours away, but it'll definitely be cloudy.

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serenidade t1_jdbhx1m wrote

Replying to ferocious-ferret (#2,313,163)

There will be two total solar eclipses visible from swaths of the US soon: a "ring of fire" eclipse in Oct 2023, and one in April 2024 that will have a much longer totality than the eclipse in 2017.

I hope you & others in this thread who have been denied can make it to one of these, or get a different opportunity to see one someday. May your skies be randomly clear at the most opportune times.

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zzulus t1_jdbk6qq wrote

I told you a couple days ago that this would happen

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FrozenToonies t1_jdbkf36 wrote

Cloudy sky in the pacific north west every f’ing time this happens. I’m glad I’ve seen my share of northern light shows when I was young but it’s been 20 years since I’ve seen them.

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BirdsLikeSka t1_jdblua0 wrote

Replying to JustAPerspective (#2,309,320)

I was so lost trying to figure out how someone is profiting from this I hardly realized you meant we should be worried about the sun.

Well, someone should be worried about the sun. I'm not in science. It'll either not blow up or I won't have to worry about it for long.

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cylonfrakbbq t1_jdbmlol wrote

Replying to Andromeda321 (#2,307,252)

I was going to post the same thing. Every time there is an article along the lines of "omg this amazing cosmic event will be visible in X area!", it is always cloudy or overcast and you can't see a damned thing

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saman65 t1_jdbn42c wrote

Shit shit shit thank you sooo much for sharing this. It seems there is a tiny chance we will see it in lower mainland BC. Was planning to trip my balls on April 2nd but might have to do it this weekend if there is a chance I could see some Aurora again this time tripping!

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charlytune t1_jdbr7h4 wrote

Replying to LeektheGeek (#2,312,743)

Brit here. It was only a couple of years ago that I realised, I think through a Reddit comment, that Arkansas = the 'Arkansaw' I'd heard mentioned in American TV and movies. I think everyone I've told is similarly surprised, I don't think anyone has said oh yeah I knew that.

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Treczoks t1_jdbrv2m wrote

As long as it's just northern lights and not burnt-out satellites and electronics, I'm fine.

0

Free_Price3574 t1_jdbs688 wrote

As someone who lives in northern Sweden - the northern lights are truly something spectacular to witness. It’s become common enough for me to see them now that I’ve lived up here over the winter but I remember the first time I saw them. I was standing almost hypnotised outside in a t shirt in like -10 Celsius just staring. It’s magnificent.

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HeroicPrinny t1_jdbx7aw wrote

Replying to I_Heart_Astronomy (#2,311,936)

It sounds like you live in a place that’s cloudy a lot.

I do too, but several hours drive to the other side of the mountains and its clear with dark skies. I was lucky to be on a road trip on that side during neowise and got some nice photos.

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Trauma-Dolll t1_jdbzz9a wrote

I think the last time I saw the northern lights in NNY was back in 2000 or 2001. It would be nice to see them again.

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Sly_Nation t1_jdc7mg5 wrote

Replying to SmokyDragonDish (#2,313,094)

Well hopefully you can get a shot at redemption here soon! The next total solar eclipse in the US will be next year in 2024 (march/april?). The next one after that will not occur until 20 years later in 2044 :|

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MrCW64 t1_jdc7xzu wrote

Misinformation:

The northern lights is an effect of the suns radiation penetrating the atmosphere. The assertion of it being blown by the wind gives the false impression that the wind on the Earth is blowing the lights. This is not the case.

The reason the northern lights are reaching further towards the equator is because the Earth's magnetic field is weakening and the solar emissions are able to effect the Earth to a greater degree.

−6

LoverboyQQ t1_jdchc54 wrote

If you own an amateur radio unplug it!!! Hams pay attention

1

slurpurple t1_jdcicll wrote

Replying to Andromeda321 (#2,307,252)

As someone who loves inclement weather, I loathe the weatherman. You see, I live in a valley that gets passed over every time a storm front rolls through. The north and south of me will get on average 10-15 inches more snow and rainfall.

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mabirm t1_jdcmc2d wrote

Replying to MOONDAYHYPE (#2,311,203)

It's nothing to be alarmed by, though. It does this roughly every 70 years. We're pretty sure the core has already paused. It'll start spinning in the other direction soon enough.

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mellifluousbeats t1_jdd0vxc wrote

"Not the best of timing for aurora sky watchers across northern Europe and North America, however a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm is currently in progress. A watch for Strong (G3) conditions has been added. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has been tipped south, a condition known to fuel geomagnetic conditions around the polar zones."

Source: solarham.net

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HailMaryPoppins t1_jdd5k7a wrote

Replying to Andromeda321 (#2,307,252)

Exactly life in the Puget Sound area of WA. It was clear skies yesterday but now clouds & rain for the foreseeable future. And it’ll likely be too cloudy to see all the planets lining up next week - I’m bummed.

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SamohtGnir t1_jddtyml wrote

Fingers crossed for clear skys! Currently "partially cloudy" :/

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T_Funky t1_jdg3sqi wrote

Replying to cascade_olympus (#2,323,662)

Just came back inside and you can sort of see them in Montana, light pollution is pretty brutal where I’m at but the sky to the north definitely looks a little more green than the rest of the sky! Excited for the chance that it’s better tomorrow, I’ve actually never seen them in person!

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neomathist t1_jdgemqs wrote

Looks like a great show exceeding expectations has already started tonight. Take a look if you can

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HelifaX1337 t1_jdgr0y6 wrote

I hope so. Im on a Norwegian Cruise right now! I allready saw some Northern lights.

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ogobeone t1_jdn5upm wrote

I didn't see a thing in Washington State. It was raining as usual.

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