tagged w/ Aurora Borealis
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Aurora Borealis, Norway
When energetic particles from the magnetosphere hit the earth's atmosphere, the skies in the planet's northernmost regions turn into an artist's palette of green and blue swathes and swirls—and, more rarely, red and purple—in the spectacle known as the Northern Lights. The winter of 2012 brought the most intense illuminations in the past 50 years thanks to the Solar Maximum. But the lights make predictable appearances every winter in places like the Lofoten Islands and Tromso, where you can maximize your chances of seeing them during a six-day cruise with Hurtigruten through Norway's northernmost locales. A delivery ship transporting goods and passengers along the coast, the cruise line offers well-priced packages in a notoriously expensive destination (hurtigruten.us, from $1,203 per person for a five-night "Classic Voyage South" cruise from Kirkenes to Bergen, includes full board).
Read more: http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/natural-wonders-phenomena-you-need-to-see-to-believe,8576/#ixzz1uE0cqEGVAurora Borealis, Norway
When energetic particles from the magnetosphere hit the... more
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An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere.An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude... more
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A solar flare Sunday triggered an outburst of solar material that should hit Earth Tuesday. The disturbance could lead to voltage swings on some power lines, as well as stronger northern lights.
An outburst from the sun late Sunday night is bathing Earth in the most powerful solar-radiation storm in six years.
The radiation storm is the first act of an event that will crescendo Tuesday, when the brunt of the outburst – called a coronal-mass ejection – arrives at Earth. It could trigger a disturbance of Earth's magnetic field, leading to voltage swings in long-distance power transmission lines as well as the appearance of the northern lights as far south as New York.
The current radiation storm – rated an S3, or strong, on a scale of 1 to 5 – could damage satellite hardware and present an increased risk of radiation exposure to passengers flying at high altitudes across polar routes, say space-weather specialists. These risks, however, are expected to be manageable.
The outburst, which occurred at 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Sunday, marks the second major solar eruption in three days.
Sunday's event began with a moderate solar flare that was "nothing special" on its own, says Doug Biesecker, a solar physicist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo.
But the flare triggered the release of billions of tons of energetic particles from the sun's atmosphere. This coronal-mass ejection (CME) is hurtling toward Earth at 4 million miles an hour, "by far the fastest CME directed at the Earth during the current solar cycle," Dr. Biesecker says.
CMEs are vast clouds of protons, electrons, as well as heavy atomic nuclei formed in the nuclear fusion reactions that power the sun.
This CME's unusually high speed is accelerating some of its protons to nearly the speed of light, and they are arriving in quantities not seen since May 2005.
The resulting radiation storm could cause some hardware or onboard software glitches for satellite operators. And radio communications at high latitudes, as well as navigation-satellite accuracy for high-precision uses, could suffer some degradation for the duration of the radiation storm.
A geomagnetic storm Tuesday could further affect satellites.
For satellite operators, geomagnetic storms have a Janus-like quality. If strong enough, they can produce voltages on a satellite's exterior that can be powerful enough to arc and cause damage. And the storms can increase the atmosphere's drag on satellites, causing them to lose altitude.
But such storms also can increase drag on space junk that can pose a risk to satellites, sending more of it to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
This week's geomagnetic storm also could bring auroras to viewers farther south than usual.
Biesecker says the storm may reach a level that could render auroras visible as far south as Idaho and New York, and perhaps even Illinois and Oregon if the CME's intensity is larger than estimated.
By Pete Spotts, Staff writer | January 23, 2012A solar flare Sunday triggered an outburst of solar material that should hit Earth... more
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A powerful solar eruption is expected to blast a stream of charged particles past Earth on Tuesday, as the strongest radiation storm since 2005 rages on the sun.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory caught an extreme ultraviolet flash from a huge eruption on the sun overnight (10:59 p.m. ET Sunday, or 0359 GMT Monday), according to SpaceWeather.com.
The solar flare spewed from sunspot 1402, a region of the sun that has become increasingly active lately. Several NASA satellites, including the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Solar Heliospheric Observatory and the STEREO spacecraft, observed the massive sun storm.
A barrage of charged particles triggered by the outburst is expected to hit Earth at around 9 a.m. ET Tuesday, according to experts at the Space Weather Prediction Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [Video and photos of the solar flare]
NOAA's forecasters say this is the strongest solar radiation storm since May 2005. As a precaution, polar flights on Earth are expected to be rerouted, the agency's deputy administrator, Kathy Sullivan, said Monday at the 92nd annual American Meteorological Society meeting in New Orleans.
Scientists call these electromagnetic bursts "coronal mass ejections," and they are closely studied because they can produce potentially harmful geomagnetic storms when electrically charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field.
In addition to generating stronger than normal displays of Earth's auroras (also known as the northern and southern lights), geomagnetic storms aimed directly at our planet can also disrupt satellites in orbit, cause widespread communications interference and damage other electronic infrastructures.
"There is little doubt that the cloud is heading in the general direction of Earth," SpaceWeather.com said in an alert. "A preliminary inspection of SOHO/STEREO imagery suggests that the CME will deliver a strong glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 24-25 as it sails mostly north of our planet."
unday's solar flare was rated an M9-class eruption, which placed it just on the verge of being an X-class flare, the most powerful type of solar storm. M-class sun storms are powerful but midrange, while C-class flares are weaker.
Last week, a separate sunspot group unleashed several M-class flares. SDO scientists said these types of flares are occurring almost daily as the sun's rotation slowly turns the region toward Earth.
The sun's activity waxes and wanes on an 11-year cycle. Currently, our planet's nearest star is in the midst of Solar Cycle 24, and activity is expected to ramp up toward solar maximum in 2013.A powerful solar eruption is expected to blast a stream of charged particles past... more
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"GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress following the impact of a coronal mass ejection (CME) today, Sept. 26th, at approximately 12:15 UT. Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab report a "strong compression of Earth's magnetosphere" and the possibility that satellites in geosynchronous orbit have been exposed to solar wind plasma and magnetic fields. Mid- to high-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after nightfall. Observing tip: The hours around local midnight are usually best for spotting Northern and Southern Lights. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.
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This is a really fun site and you can sign up for email alerts to interesting things going on in the sky. They always run a table with near earth objects and have some great photo galleries too."GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress following the... more
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"The bad news: the baby seal hunting season has begun off the coast of Newfoundland. The good news: they're using a more humane technique. They're shaking the baby seals instead of clubbing them." Chris Martin joins People for the Ethical Treatment of Stand-up Comedians at the 9:55 Comedy Club's open mic May 2, 2011. Joshua Saucier is the MC.
http://www.chrismartincomedy.com"The bad news: the baby seal hunting season has begun off the coast of... more
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"The Pillsbury Dough Boy celebrated his fifty-first birthday. Sadly, he never recovered from his molestation at the hands of the Michelin Man." Stand-up comedian Chris Martin deflates brands April 27, 2011 at McCormack's Irish Pub in Richmond, VA. Joe Hafkey is MC.
http://chrismartincomedy.com"The Pillsbury Dough Boy celebrated his fifty-first birthday. Sadly, he never... more
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"Bad news: Japan glows in the dark. Good news: Sarah Palin can now see two countries from her porch." Stand-up comedian Chris Martin goes Gilbert Gottfried April 19, 2011 at Strange Matter in Richmond, VA. John Reaves is the MC.
http://chrismartincomedy.com"Bad news: Japan glows in the dark. Good news: Sarah Palin can now see two... more
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"Charlie Sheen has a nationwide tour called 'The Violent Torpedo of Truth.' Curiously, that was also my porn name." Stand-up comedian Chris Martin reveals a sordid secret April 4, 2011 at the 9:55 Comedy Club open mic in Richmond, VA. Ray Bullock is the MC.
http://chrismartincomedy.com"Charlie Sheen has a nationwide tour called 'The Violent Torpedo of... more
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Norwegian photographer Terje Sorgjerd spent a week capturing what he said was "one of the biggest aurora borealis shows in recent years."
The stunning video (minus the music) was shot in and around Kirkenes (Norway) and Pas National Park bordering Russia, at 70 degree north and 30 degrees east.Norwegian photographer Terje Sorgjerd spent a week capturing what he said was... more
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I love this website
http://www.spaceweather.com/
i know a bunch of news stories about this have been posted, but this website is really SO COOL - had to add it to everything else.I love this website
http://www.spaceweather.com/
i know a bunch of news stories... more
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arigg
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added this
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1 year ago
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The biggest solar blast in four years erupted late Monday, and it’s sending jets of charged particles right at Earth. The flare will spark bright auroras when it hits the magnetosphere in the next 24 to 48 hours.
A cluster of sunspots called Active Region 1158 unleashed the flare at 8:50 p.m. EST, Feb. 14 [1:50 a.m. UT, Feb. 15]. The flare was classified as a class X2.2, meaning it is the most powerful flare since December 2006. The sunspots have continued to let loose smaller flares and may still be active now.
NOAA forecasters estimate a 45 percent chance of geomagnetic activity on Thursday, Feb. 17, when the bulk of the radiation hits Earth’s magnetic field. It may create a stunning display of aurora borealis, better known as northern lights. So look up! If you take pictures, send us your best shots. If we get enough, we’ll create a reader gallery.The biggest solar blast in four years erupted late Monday, and it’s sending jets... more
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These are some stunning aurora pictures taken on the night of 8/3/10, in Minnesota. The photographer of these pictures, captured the images between 11pm and 12am and submitted them to spaceweather.com. Yesterday, CME's (Coronal Mass Ejections) from the Sun reached the earth, creating a geomagnetic storm, creating the northern lights in the sky. The lights may be visible again this evening.These are some stunning aurora pictures taken on the night of 8/3/10, in Minnesota.... more
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April 7, 2010 -- Photographer Albert Jakobsson knows how to be in the right place at the right time. He was on hand at the latest eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjajokull volcano over the weekend just as Earth was being slammed with the strongest geomagnetic storm in three years. The result: lava meets heavenly bliss as a ribbon of green aurora ripples above Eyjafjajokull's fire fountains.
A shot like that is one in a million, but Jakobsson's been lingering around the volcano for a while now, documenting the incredible juxtaposition of fire, ice, and celestial beauty. In an image taken last week, he captured the full moon as it cast a silvery pall over the proceedings:
http://news.discovery.com/earth/iceland-volcano-aurora.htmlApril 7, 2010 -- Photographer Albert Jakobsson knows how to be in the right place at... more
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Sky watchers observing from high latitude areas may be in for a treat tonight. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have predicted a 30-35% chance of geo-magnetic storm activity during the late hours of February 14-15. Activity could reach as far south as Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The source of this potential light show is a solar wind stream flowing energetically from a coronal hole on the Sun. If you’re lucky, the night sky where you live could look like this for Valentine’s Day night.
Coronal holes are darker, colder areas of the Sun's corona that have lower-density plasma than elsewhere in the Sun’s outer atmosphere. Coronal holes are areas where the fast-moving component of the solar wind is known to pass through as it escapes into space.
When energy from the Sun interacts with the Earth’s outer atmosphere, it excites oxygen and nitrogen molecules some 100 and 400km above the surface, respectively, emitting a green (oxygen) or red (nitrogen) glow. This in turn excites observers on the ground, who may see the auroral dance take on any of several characteristic forms.
There may just be a glow to the north (or south if you live in the southern hemisphere), just over the horizon; or you may see arcs or bands of light, sometimes with vertical rays spiking high into the night sky. During strong events you may witness the famous curtain effect, or the coronal effect where all the rays appear to converge almost directly overhead.
So if the sky is clear tonight, take your Valentine outside, find a place to snuggle up and you may be rewarded with a light show you can share and remember for years to come.
http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/14/aurora-watch-valentines-day-sun-earth-weather-alert/Sky watchers observing from high latitude areas may be in for a treat tonight.... more
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This scene is just amazing and so beautifully peaceful. I certainly never expected to see this at all, because the photograph was just titled “Radio City Spots.” But the photographer of this scene has really captured the gorgeous, lush colors cascading down from the spotlights up on the stage's ceiling in a way that makes it look like you're actually seeing the stunning northern lights of the Aurora Borealis. It's so beautiful and calming. And a wonderful short music video to accompany this awesome photograph is included here, “The Aurora Borealis: A Dance of the Spirits.”This scene is just amazing and so beautifully peaceful. I certainly never expected to... more
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Please view in HQ and full screen. Mysterious, imaginative night-piece of shifting images from the creative husband-and-wife team of artist Gary Zaimont and composer Judith Lang Zaimont. Videography by Michael Bregman, and Doris Lang Kosloff leads the chamber ensemble. Judith’s “Borealis”, from SKY CURTAINS for mixed ensemble, is recorded on the CD “Neon Rhythm”.
Available at http//:www.ArkivMusic.com and http://www.Amazon.com. Score published by Jeanné, Inc. http://www.jeanne-inc.com.
More about the composer at http://www.jzaimont.com and http://www.MySpace/com/judithlangzaimont.Please view in HQ and full screen. Mysterious, imaginative night-piece of shifting... more
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See Links to vote below:
Please vote daily through August 30, 2009 for story about Rev. Jon Magnuson's nonprofit environment projects in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: Vote for the story by Donna Kumpula about the EarthKeeper Initiative and the Zaagkii Project
It was weekly winner in April but now its competing against about 19 others for the big prize . Money that would help fund the projects for a year.
You'll need to register - or login if you have voted before.
Its entitled:
Creating numerous environment projects that bring together diverse groups, students, American Indians
Link to story is near end of list on lower right hand side of page.
http://www.friendsofelsie.com/friends.asp?action=register
Or go directly to story – and register or log-in:
http://www.friendsofelsie.com/SingleSensations.asp?action=readStory&story=70
Brief summary of projects your vote would support:
The interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative:
The interfaith EarthKeepers planted twelve thousand (12,000) trees across northern Michigan for Earth Day 2009 thanks to over 100 churches/temples from 12 religions.
During past Earth Day projects, the EarthKeepers have recycled or properly disposed over nearly 400 tons of waste including cellphones, computers (and related equipment), printers, car batteries, poisons, pesticides, oil-based paint, pharmaceuticals and much more.
The Zaagkii Project:
This summer Native American youth and at-risk teens are repairing the ecosystem along a Lake Superior beach, built dozens of Mason Bee houses including some to be placed at the U.S. National Gardens in D.C.; Native American teens this month are helping build a greenhouse for native species plants on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community reservation.
Last summer the teens built dozens of butterfly houses for migrating Monarchs.See Links to vote below:
Please vote daily through August 30, 2009 for story about... more
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