Hum Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 WASHINGTON (AP) — A baffling solar storm pulled colorful northern lights unusually far south, surprising space weather experts and treating skywatchers to a rare and spectacular treat. A storm-chasing photographer captured the strange sky show in Arkansas Monday night. People in Kentucky and Georgia reported their sightings to local television stations. A special automated NASA camera that takes a picture of the sky every minute in Huntsville, Ala., captured 20 minutes of the vibrant red and green aurora borealis. "They are very rare events," said NASA scientist Bill Cooke, who found the aurora photos in the Alabama camera's archive and posted them on the Marshall Space Flight Center's blog. "We don't see them this far south that often." Officials at the federal Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo., said they were surprised at the southern reach. The center monitors solar storms, which trigger auroras. Space weather forecast chief Bob Rutledge said given the size of the solar storm, the lights probably shouldn't have been visible south of Iowa. The storm was only considered "moderate" sized, he said. He called the storm unusual, its effects reaching Earth eight hours faster than forecast. But that timing made it just about perfect for U.S. viewing, he said. "The peak of the intensity happened when it was dark or becoming dark over the U.S., coupled with the clear skies. We did have significant aurora sightings," Rutledge said. "The timing was good on this." An aurora begins with a storm shooting a magnetic solar wind from the sun. The wind slams into Earth's magnetic field, compressing it. That excites electrons of oxygen and nitrogen. When those excited electrons calm down, they emit red and green colors, Rutledge said. Often solar storms can cause damage satellites and power grids. more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebor Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 NEAT! I wonder if it was visible in the UK, although it would have been around 4am This is one of those things I have always wanted to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I am Reid Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 It sounds like the space weather forecast chief doesnt know what he's talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 It was the first wave of brain-destroying attacks, from Mars. :woot: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts