Chance of Aurora tonight?

[Tom OD]

Hi All,

My local astronomy club announced a large solar flare on the 2nd of Sept, and suggested there might be Aurora visible tonight. I don't see much buzz on the net. Is this still a possibility/

Thanks Tom

[Steve Ward]

The CME was pointing the wrong way so that's a no for aurora ... 

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/

[Ptarmigan]

I wouldnt rule tonight out just yet,

something passed the ACE magnetometers about 5utc and they are still showing slightly elevated levels,

but Bz is +ve

Ah, just found this on Spaceweather.com

" NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Sept. 6th when a CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. "

so that's what my 'something' was maybe, a little early though , , ,

Thanks for the alert Tom,

might be one for the Scots brigade.

[Steve Ward]

http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

[Space Ranger]

............Thanks for the alert Tom,

might be one for the Scots brigade.

Not much to see in the far north of the UK on the 6th, & what little there was got drowned out by the bright moonlight...

The display on the 27th August was much better (https://www.flickr.com/photos/57299237@N05/14880485640/)

I find these websites useful for obtaining the latest data:

http://www.solarham.net/

http://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en

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