Aurora Borealis Over Scotland & Northern England Tonight & Tomorrow Night

[goodricke1]

After a forecast of clear, frosty skies nothing but a cloud bank here:(

[rpnphotography]

If you look on the webcam live from Iceland I think you see the aurora just starting up faintly, either that or my eyes are tired from photo editing! 

http://www.livefromiceland.is/webcams/thingvellir/

[biogenesis]

Yes! I've been watching that carefully, the sky glowed green faintly around 10 minutes ago...

I've read that I need kp 6.00 to see it tonight, from the midlands?

[col]

Hi everyone, I was hoping for a glimpse ? But a neighbors security light is making it unlikely.

[YouCannotBeSirius]

We need a KP6 here in Cumbria so my fairly educated guess would be anything further than Manchester would need at least a 6 but perhaps more likely, a 7?

Has anyone from the UK seen anything?

It seems the sudden fluctuation to KP4 around 11-12am was the best it's gonna get tonight. Whichever scientist started the KP7 rumour needs talking to!

[astronymonkey]

Hi col, not much to see at the moment anyway......clear skies on teesside though at present.

[col]

Hi AM I'm up for a little bit yet just in case, the sky isn't bad at all at the moment?

[YouCannotBeSirius]

Tomorrow may prove more fruitful.

[astronymonkey]

Im giving it til 2am then will check again before dawn. Shame though as it looked promising

[YouCannotBeSirius]

It looked very promising for a while. All the sites I'm checking are reporting reduced KP's now. It was certainly worth keeping an eye out up North and in Scotland for sure though. I'll see what tomorrow night has to offer. The papers jumped rather ahead of themselves with KP7!

[col]

I'm off work for a few days so will take advantage of the late nights, I'll dig my binos out too I think?

[YouCannotBeSirius]

 

A quick KP update for Europe in case anyone is still interested:

Right now, the aurora is predicted to be: Kp 2.67 In 0 hour and 19 minutes, the aurora is predicted to be kp 2.67

In 0 hour and 36 minutes, the aurora is predicted to be kp 2.67

In 0 hour and 45 minutes, the aurora is predicted to be kp 1.00

 

I think it's worth seeing what tomorrow night's situation is...

[col]

Not familiar with the numbers, I'm guessing the higher the number the better? And 6 is needed to maybe see it from teeside?

[astronymonkey]

I have a feeling tomorrow night will be quiet due to no cme being due from the sun. The big sunspot is beginning bto turn away from us meaning future flares and cme are unlikely to be earthbound ...... you never no though !

[astronymonkey]

Not familiar with the numbers, I'm guessing the higher the number the better? And 6 is needed to maybe see it from teeside?

yep, bigger is better and a kp6 would be good for north england .... kp7 even better !

[YouCannotBeSirius]

I think you are right about tomorrow night, Astromonkey.

I'm no expert on these things, but I know I need a KP6 for Cumbria, Col, and KP7 would reach Southern areas. Also a clear, dark sky and views of the Northern horizon.

[col]

yep, bigger is better and a kp6 would be good for north england .... kp7 even better !

Thanks, I'll have a google so I'm more familiar with it.

[col]

I think you are right about tomorrow night, Astromonkey.

I'm no expert on these things, but I know I need a KP6 for Cumbria, Col, and KP7 would reach Southern areas. Also a clear, dark sky and views of the Northern horizon.

I don't have an horizon but the tops of the buildings in the distance of my town. It's not too bad considering.

[col]

The website I'm looking at is still saying the chances are good?

[YouCannotBeSirius]

Earlier there was KP4, since it's steadily dropped to 3 and then to 2.76 and heading towards 1 in the next hour. The best time is around 12am-3am on high ground, looking at Northern horizon under a dark, clear sky. The chances now are slim and looking dismal from the sites I regularly check....

[col]

Is tonight it really, or is there a chance tomorrow?

[YouCannotBeSirius]

Tomorrow night's general prediction for Europe is KP3 at best according to 'Aurora Service EU' so folk in Sweden, Norway and Possibly Iceland would be in with a fairly good chance of seeing something under good sky conditions.

[col]

Iv just found that site, saved it for future reference cheers.

[YouCannotBeSirius]

No problem, it's a great site, very up-to-date and accurate, it's the one I keep an eye on the most.

I wonder if anyone in Scotland saw anything when we were on KP4 earlier. It was exciting seeing the quick jump from 1/2 - 4 shortly before midnight.

Ah well, nothing wrong with being hopeful and optimistic, if you never try you never know. There'll be other times in the future.

[col]

Yep I'll keep checking that site, it's been a while since iv had a chance to do anything sky wise and I'm just finding the time to check it out a bit.