Northern Lights Are Out Tonight, G1 Storm in Progress

Delicate rays, including one bright beam that resembled a searchlight, grew from multiple, faint auroral arcs around 11-11:15 p.m. CST, March 2 as seen from Duluth, Minn. Bob King

Wind blowing from a hole in the sun's corona sparked a minor but beautiful auroral display tonight. And it's still happening as of 11:30 p.m. CST. I just returned from taking a few photos. Around 10:30 p.m. the aurora formed a long, low arc across the northern sky visible from the countryside. 20 minutes later, a brighter arc formed below it no more than 5° high as seen from Duluth, Minn.

This bright ray looked just like a comet. I was reminded of Comet NEOWISE from last July when it appeared in the northern sky. Bob King

Then at 11 p.m., things got exciting when the first diffuse rays grew from that arc. Soon, multiple rayed arcs came out of nowhere, every one of them sprouting rays that slowly swept from east to west no more than 10-15° above the northern horizon. In the camera I could tell how intense the aurora must have been farther north in Canada because the bottoms of the rays were deep red. 

This arc burst into view around 11 p.m. no more than 3-4° above the horizon, but it was colorful and bright and dappled with "blurry" rays. Bob King

What a perfect night for northern lights. Not too cold, about 31° (-1° C). The air even smelled of bog, one of my favorite night fragrances. Although the waning gibbous moon shared the sky, it didn't dampen the aurora much. When I left to return home and share the news, diffuse rays still swayed and slowly pulsed across the bottom of the northern sky. 

Several well-defined rays stand out briefly from the auroral mush around 11 p.m. March 2 near Duluth, Minn. Bob King

I hope it lasts long enough for you to see it, too. The next minor G1 storm like this one is predicted for March 18-19. March, and the equinoxes in general, are the best times of the year to see the northern lights because the Earth's orientation in its orbit makes it more receptive to connecting with the magnetic fields entwined in the sun's particle blasts. 

Comments

  1. unknownApril 5, 2023 at 1:39 AM

    wonderful pictures...I really like these pictures. To see northern lights we offers Northern lights trip. Book now.

    ReplyDelete

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