Second Chance of Possible Northern Lights

muckish

slimboyfat wrote: »

What are the chances??

Active sunspot 1401 erupted today, Jan. 19th, between 15:15 and 16:30 UT. The long-duration blast produced an M3-class solar flare and a CME that appears to be heading toward Earth

Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab confirm that the CME is heading for Earth, and they say strong geomagnetic storms are possible when the cloud arrives during the late hours of Jan. 21st.

http://www.spaceweather.com/

There's a good chance if the weather is clear. The "storm" is predicted to reach mid latitudes so should at least reach a KP5 value. Keep an eye on the various websites such as spaceweather.com etc. Fingers crossed

teddansonswig

hey Donegalers
think a gang of us are headed up to see the northern lights this weekend!
any suggestions of a good viewing spots?
never been up that way, cannot wait! and we get to have a look around on sunday in daylight!

ideally a high point with views out to the sea

thanks!

slimboyfat

Read this first, take from http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Sky%20Events%20Now.html

It's a little early yet to give a specific forecast for N. Ireland on both Sat and Sun night however what is clear is that it will be an unsettled affair with Atlantic dominated weather action. During the day and evening of both Sat and Sun there will be a mix of Wintry showers of rain, sleet, and hail with blustery winds with the greatest amount of showers in the N and NW of the country, it will be a matter of dodging these showers and taking advantage of the clear gaps between clouds to spot any aurora. To complicate matters further frontal systems will be moving across the country later on both nights bringing significant cloud and rain and just how much cloud will be ahead of these systems is impossible to say yet, however on the whole it will be a battle with narrow windows or broken windows of watching time so it will simply come down to luck. Inland areas may fair a better chance away from coasts during the evening hours where there could be a greater chance of clear sky. The good news is that the sky will be very dark with no serious moonlight to contend with so the only handicap will be the weather and the time of the CME impact. I wish you all the very best of luck and clear skies!

You are not guranteed to see the Northern Lights but if you make the trip get a spot that will be sheltered from the wind and rain and clear from light pollution.

ednwireland

you could always keep an eye here

http://www.donegalskies.com/#!vstc3=aurorawatch

teddansonswig

thanks very much lads,
were all irish, and understand the cloudy risk!
but were all dubs, and dont know the local geography/make out spots!
was more looking for a good spot to park up for the night
cheers and wish us luck!

Bligh

The best place to park during the night is the public car park at Banbas Crown, or you could try the Five Fingers strand, turn left at the lagg church drive down the lane to the beach, nice views out to sea, if you want places to stay try Docs pub or the white strand B&B

Enjoy and hope ya get a view of the lights

Penfailed

I've heard there's quite a few people gathered up at the Pollen Beach in Ballyliffen. I had a look outside there now...very cloudy.

Harps

Well according to spaceweather its only a Kp2 at the moment so no chance of seeing them if it doesn't increase

uck51js9zml2yt

Is there anywhere around
tranalor to See it? Heading up next week for a few days.

slimboyfat

Current short term forecast is extreme+, bloody typical

Lets just hope that it stay like that till after dark and we get a break in the clouds.

muckish

check out Alaska at the moment. Beautiful

Penfailed

Apparently the northern lights are out tonight - Ballyliffen and Malin Head are meant to be good spots.

donegal_road

have they been spotted already tonight? I just checked and there is a kind of a glow towards the northern horizon, Im on height so will get a good view if it stays clear, Twin Towns area. I have seen them twice before, Letterkenny in 1991 and Donegal Town in 96

Penfailed

That glow is it! Take a photo on a long exposure - 15 seconds is all you need. It'll come out. I'm uploading photos now

Penfailed

The first four are from the Pollen Beach, Ballyliffen and the last two are from just outside Buncrana

Fear_an_tarbh

Awesome pics Penfailed, saw a green hue coming from behind cloud cover at Mountain Top in Letterkenny 15 minutes ago, not spectacular but cool to see

Penfailed

Fear_an_tarbh wrote: »

Awesome pics Penfailed

Could've done with a steadier hand!

Daniel O Donnel

Saw some colours high up in the sky earlier on around half eight.
After that there was only a nice glow on the horizon which is now gone as well. Was nice to see anyway:)

Daniel O Donnel

great display on now !!!!!

muckish

Just back from viewing at Horn Head.

homer simpson

Just in the door myself, went to Grianan but the light of Burnfoot / Buncranna effected getting a proper view, so went to Ballyliffin. Seems I'd missed the best of it and it was really cloudy then but heres a few of my photos anyway .....

danniemcq

oh son of a ......

anyone know if this is gonna be as good tonight?

slimboyfat

danniemcq wrote: »

oh son of a ......

anyone know if this is gonna be as good tonight?

Kp index is back down to 2 http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast, so not looking good but there may be another chance to see them later this week as there was 'ALMOST-X FLARE AND CME' from here http://www.spaceweather.com/ , not sure what that means as yet but I'm sure muckisk will come along soon and tell us.

madalig12

There is a place up above 5 finger strand, not so easy to get to but you can pm me an i'll try a description.

CiaranMcDCFC

Did anyone see the lights over the weekend?

muffler

CiaranMcDCFC wrote: »

Did anyone see the lights over the weekend?

Yup! - See here

James74

Homer, must have been you I met at Pollen beach last night taking pics. Pity that the cloud cover spoiled it a bit. Great photos.

James

nikinova

muckish wrote: »

Just back from viewing at Horn Head.

they are amazing pics:)

DMG_49

Anyone know if this will be on tomorrow night at malin head?

Or anywhere else?

Thanks:)

uck51js9zml2yt

DMG_49 wrote: »

Anyone know if this will be on tomorrow night at malin head?

Or anywhere else?

Thanks:)

How far is this from ballybofey