Strong Geomagnetic Storm Today — Aurora May Show Tonight, May 12

During this morning's G3 storm — modeled here around 9 a.m. CDT — the aurora expanded and brightened across Siberia. NASA / NOAA

Earlier this morning (May 12) from about 7-9 a.m. Central Time a strong G3 geomagnetic storm rattled the planet's magnetic field. Too bad the sun was shining or the northern half of the U.S. and Canada would have witnessed a fine display of northern lights. Although it's difficult to say whether the disruption could spill over into tonight there's always a possibility. 

This is one of the two coronal mass ejections related to the filament eruption and a modest solar flare on May 9. NASA / ESA 

For now, the space weather forecasters predict "active" but not storm conditions this evening from nightfall till dawn. That typically means a little bit of aurora within 10° of the northern horizon for observers in the northern states. The cause of the excitement is a tendril of hot gas called a filament, which the sun flung into space on May 9th. Update 6:45 p.m. CDT: G1 minor storm now predicted for tonight through about 1 a.m. CDT.

Venus and the skinny crescent will be just 1° apart tonight low in the northwestern sky shortly after sundown during evening twilight. Stellarium

Wednesday night would be ideal for aurora-watching. You can check out the beautiful Venus-young moon conjunction shortly after sunset, grab a coffee and a bite to eat, then head out to a dark-sky site in anticipation of the aurora. Since clear skies are expected at my location tonight, I'll update you with current information both here and on Twitter (@astrobob_bk). Remember, that given the aurora's mischievous ways, it may not show at all for mid-latitude skywatchers.

Check out the current forecast, or go here to see a map showing the predicted extent of the aurora in near-real time. 

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 13, 2021 at 10:27 AM

    Hey Bob. I drove west about 30 min & raced the sunset but I was unable to see the crescent Moon & Venus conjunction last night. I am going to try again tonight. How was the aurora?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bob KingMay 27, 2021 at 7:33 AM

    Sorry, I didn't get your comment till later. Sorry you missed them. This Friday, May 28, Mercury will be in very close conjunction with Venus. Look about 40-45 minutes after sunset. You won't see Mercury with the naked eye, but if you focus on Venus with binoculars and look close to left and below Venus you should see Mercury as the sky gets darker.

    ReplyDelete

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