Northern Lights

[Grizzly Adams1]

Just back from a meeting out West, so I got the full effects. Don't think I've ever seen them this spectacular.

Grizz

[Dewey Cox]

I've never seen them 360 degrees like this before.
And dancing all around.
Not much for colour though.

[yoteblaster]

Super cool

[mikevv]

First time we have saw them out here in Nordegg. Way different from what we saw before, they almost looked like they were diffused.
Mike

[Blastoff]

Little happening 2 night,

[calgarychef]

Damn, just went out and I guess I missed them

[slough shark]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

Damn, just went out and I guess I missed them

They’re still going on, I went for a short drive out to brag creek area and they’re out, not the brightest I’ve seen but we shall wait to see if they really fire up; somewhat irregular but I’m seeing them to the south more than the north tonight

[Smoky buck]

My wife always misses them and it drives her nuts lol

She has only seen faint washed out northern lights

[waldedw]

Years ago when I worked in Kamchatka Russia we would get northern lights shows quit often, they were beautiful and some nights you could actually feel the static electricity in the air especially when it was really cold

Northern Lights 3 (1).jpg

Northern Lights 6 (1).jpg

[barbless]

I can still remember seeing some awesome light streaks in the night sky when I was just a kid (about 10-11) living in Sioux Lookout. I would sneak outside and watch em. Fast forward to 17 yrs old riding my motorbike going camping and fishing around the Parry Sound area, had the pleasure of some awesome night lights again. For the truly never leave the city folk, take the time and get out and observe what our earth and sky has to offer. Will cost you some fuel and give you a lifetime memory.

[slough shark]

Yeah they perked up again a few times last night, definitely in the top 5 shows I’ve seen, too bad I’m no good with the camera and technology because the pics I did take didn’t do it justice.

[Phil McCracken]

Not the best pic quality, but wifey took a few last night. Pretty nice show!...

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

I've never seen them 360 degrees like this before.
And dancing all around.
Not much for colour though.

Climate change…… bahahahahaha

[FishOutOfWater]

[Sledhead71]

From the hot tub last night.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Climate change…… bahahahahaha

So, we're in the midst of one of the most severe solar storms ever observed, is this affecting our climate ? the sun is the driver, certainly, our electronic devices are being tested.

Grizz

[Stinky Buffalo]

A freind of mine from central Alberta was messaging me last night about the view of the northern lights from his farm... I desperately wanted to drive out of town to look at them, but was stuck on a production outage...

Thanks for the pictures - some amazing light shows!

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

Damn, just went out and I guess I missed them

No such thing in the events of this magnitude. It was quite a storm that I bet was clearly visible in Calgary and further south. Patience and time is key though.



And this one wasn’t anticipated. I kept taking a random look now and then from the north facing window after seeing this thread. There were some bleak lights, but nothing special, every day type of thing.

Eventually, I came outside, around 12:30AM. Of course, I looked north and same thing, maybe a bit mote than “regular”. I then looked south and jebus… the sky was lit up!



Not the biggest I have seen, but it was quite a show. Spread back north via west and east, met in the middle, etc. I took a good video, but not many pics. It was pretty cool and I haven’t seen one of this magnitude in a while. Hopefully, it will last a couple of days, but the “big” one is likely behind us.

As for the mostly green colour, in my experience, the bigger it is and the closer you are to it, the greener it is. Most of the other colours come out at the edges when it “runs” and when the “hole” opens up in the middle of the sky above. That is why most of the photos you see taken somewhere south have some nice pink, purple, whatever colours and pictures from the north all are pretty much green for the most part.

This was a pretty big solar storm that doesn’t happen often. Glad I was able to catch it. If I didn’t step outside at that moment, I’d likely miss it. I went out a few more times later and caught a little more, but it wasn’t as spectacular. There likely were moments, but one had to be there at the right time.





Cassiopeia above the lights:



One of the things I am going to miss most about this place when we move…

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

My wife always misses them and it drives her nuts lol

She has only seen faint washed out northern lights

Mine is the same, but it doesn’t drive her nuts as much, lol.

I also know people who were born and raised here in town and have never seen any lights at all. Seems crazy, but some people never look up.

[Dewey Cox]

I wouldn't have seen it, but some random person pulled up in the approach across from my house and I couldn't figure out what they were doing.
I went out to investigate this suspicious behavior, and all of the sudden it was pretty obvious what they were looking at.
If they wouldn't have done that, I probably would have missed it.
I made my kids all come out to look, and they all said "meh" and went back inside. Tough crowd...

[FishOutOfWater]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

So, we're in the midst of one of the most severe solar storms ever observed, is this affecting our climate ? the sun is the driver, certainly, our electronic devices are being tested.

Grizz

Apparently there was another Carrington-type event a few days ago (Mar 13 / 2023)... But the flare supposedly missed Earth.

https://youtu.be/mJCytV7PUzk

[barbless]

No matter..... Most will never enjoy or get to see what we have had the pleasure to observe. Sucks to be them, cause they will never venture out to see the spectacular free visual experience we have all enjoyed. Love all the pics for sure. Wish I was still in Sioux Lookout....

[does it ALL outdoors]

Originally Posted by Sledhead71

From the hot tub last night.

That's VERY cool!

Thanks for posting.

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

As for the mostly green colour, in my experience, the bigger it is and the closer you are to it, the greener it is. Most of the other colours come out at the edges when it “runs” and when the “hole” opens up in the middle of the sky above. That is why most of the photos you see taken somewhere south have some nice pink, purple, whatever colours and pictures from the north all are pretty much green for the most part.

Just wanted to add on the colours. The reason we observe different colours is because they appear different at different heights in the atmosphere. The lowest colours are kind of pink, which the collision of the “flare” with nitrogen, the green is oxygen, and the red and pink above that is also oxygen but at a significantly higher altitude - we are talking hundreds of kilometres here. Higher yet is helium and hydrogen, which produce purple and blue, that are hardly ever observed but can be photographed.

So, beside the fact that most of the auroras tend to occur in the green “oxygen spectrum” (100-300km above the ground), and, hence, aren’t easily observed but at the northern latitudes, it is basically like standing in front a super tall building. Even when there is an epic storm, those of us closer to it, we mostly observe a lot of green and some pink above (and below, depending on the storm) because we cannot clearly see the top of the building. Those more south, on the other hand, cannot see the green part because it is covered by the earth (because it is round, despite that some believe it is flat, lol), rather they see a lot less green than we do here if the storm is as epic as it was a few days ago, but see a lot more pink and red above because the top of the building is pretty clear for them to see. Not exactly the same, but something like that.

There is your “nerd” thing for the night, lol.

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

I made my kids all come out to look, and they all said "meh" and went back inside. Tough crowd...

Lol. Tough indeed. I was debating whether I should wake my 8-year old up, lol. It’s funny how we take these simple yet amazing things for granted. Some people take weeks worth of vacation in the winter to go to Norway or somewhere else north and hang outside in uncomfortable conditions all night trying to catch a glimpse and take a photo.

This one they said reached all the way to Florida! Something they say that didn't happen for about 2 decades.

[fishnguy]

If this baby stays put till lights out (they are saying it should last for days), we should be in for quite a display. Not necessarily, but definitely a huge potential.



Those interested should be on the look out. A little cloudy here today, which sucks big time.

[Dewey Cox]

Last night was clear as a bell, hopefully tonight can be too.

[Savage Bacon]

It's getting overcast here. What direction should I be looking? North East?

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[Dewey Cox]

Originally Posted by Savage Bacon

It's getting overcast here. What direction should I be looking? North East?

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Up

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by Savage Bacon

It's getting overcast here. What direction should I be looking? North East?

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Calgary/Red Deer area, definitely north.

Sky is completely covered here now. Kind of feels like it is going to rain, lol. Too bad.

Euros are reporting quite some lights and fairly far south.

[Savage Bacon]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

Calgary/Red Deer area, definitely north.



Sky is completely covered here now. Kind of feels like it is going to rain, lol. Too bad.



Euros are reporting quite some lights and fairly far south.

Yep it's looking like I'll miss it. I'll have a look after dark.

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