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Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: faith0504 on February 17, 2011, 10:06:24 am

Title: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: faith0504 on February 17, 2011, 10:06:24 am

Britain should experience spectacular Northern Lights displays from Thursday due to a large solar storm which could disrupt communication networks, the British Geological Survey (BGS) said.
"Since February 13 three energetic solar flares have erupted on the sun and spewed clouds of charged plasma called coronal mass ejections (CMEs) out towards the earth," a BGS geomagnetic storm warning said.

"Already one CME arrived on the 14th sparking Valentine's Day displays of the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) further south than usual.

"Two CMEs are expected to arrive in the next 24-48 hours and further...displays are possible some time over the next two nights if skies are clear."

The strongest storm in four years is expected to interfere with satellites and electrical networks, with astronomers in southern China already reporting disturbances to radio communications.

The BGS Wednesday published geomagnetic records dating back to the Victorian era which it hopes will help in planning for future storms.

"Life increasingly depends on technologies that didn't exist when the magnetic recordings began," Alan Thomson, BGS head of geomagnetism said.

"Studying the records will tell us what we have to plan and prepare for to make sure systems can resist solar storms," he added.

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: bamford6 on February 17, 2011, 10:16:57 am

we get them in the highlands would love to see

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: faith0504 on February 17, 2011, 10:21:55 am

everything crossed you see them tonight  :wave:

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: morri2 on February 17, 2011, 11:49:47 am

I have always wanted to see the 'Northern(?)' Lights - Not something that's usually on view in Wales.  And can you believe it, it feels like I'm going down with a migraine, so I'll be languishing in bed for the next 24-36 hours unable to see anything!! Can't even bear the light through the curtains - just at the time when I might get my chance, typical!!!   >:( :'(

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: plumseverywhere on February 17, 2011, 11:52:39 am

oh how exciting!!  My eldest is learning about space at the moment and is constantly reading, googling and doing as much as she can to learn more. telescope is currently out and pointed at sky so guess where Milli will be later!!

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: sabrina on February 17, 2011, 12:05:31 pm

Will have to hope we get clear sky this evening  :wave:

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: HappyHippy on February 17, 2011, 12:42:04 pm

Oh fingers crossed - I'd love to see them too.
(As long as the storm doesn't take out my broadband :o ;))

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: ellied on February 17, 2011, 05:48:47 pm

Wow I'd love to see the northern lights, it's one of my lifetime ambitions but thought I'd have to go a lot further north to see them..

How far south do they reckon the lights will be visible?  I'm betting it'll be cloudy tonight after the day we've had but I will definitely pop out for a look later.. grateful for any guidance on where to look and when :)

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: RUSTYME on February 17, 2011, 06:03:44 pm

Quote

grateful for any guidance on where to look and when

UP ..... and..... later on  ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D

sorry couldn't resist  !!!!

Had a perfect day here all day , but although there is a full moon out at the moment , the cloud is starting to appear , so it looks as though it will be no northern lights here tonight . But I will look anyway .
 I wonder if it will knockout  any coms or other technology  ? It has already hit some short wave radio in China by all accounts.

cheers

Russ

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: faith0504 on February 17, 2011, 06:19:29 pm

Russ that was brilliant had me and the OH in stitches,  ;D ;D

we have got a fantastic full moon and clear sky at the moment, neither of us have ever seen them so fingers crossed we will be out later looking skywards  :wave:

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: Hardfeather on February 18, 2011, 06:45:21 pm

Quote from: morri2 on February 17, 2011, 11:49:47 am

  And can you believe it, it feels like I'm going down with a migraine, so I'll be languishing in bed for the next 24-36 hours unable to see anything!! Can't even bear the light through the curtains   >:( :'(

Have you tried Feverfew capsules?

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: egglady on February 18, 2011, 06:50:05 pm

my mum lived in Iceland for many years and says they are spectacular.  Despite being to Iceland several times, I've never been lucky enough to see them myself yet :(

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: CameronS on February 18, 2011, 06:51:44 pm

It's foggy here tonight same as it was last night, fingers crossed the fog lifts. i really want to see them, and have done for years   :)

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: morri2 on February 18, 2011, 07:50:27 pm

Did anyone have any luck with the northern lights sightings last night ???? Those of you in Scotland should have had the best chance.

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: faith0504 on February 18, 2011, 08:16:27 pm

nothing here in buckie, will be looking out tonight, but its rather cloudy, but ya never know eh  :wave:

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: shetlandpaul on February 18, 2011, 10:00:15 pm

cloudy up here ive seen a couple of faint ones since being up here nothing like what you see on the tv.

Title: Re: storm to bring the northern lights to britain
Post by: faith0504 on February 19, 2011, 09:45:20 am

nothing up here last night  ???