[gse-aa] Auroral Alert

[Charles Deehr]

There have been a series of events on the sun on November 3, 4, and 5th.
The shocks from these events are combining to reach Earth beginning in the
next 12 hours.  Another event occurred just now and is continuing.  

This means that the aurora will be active beginning tonight in Alaska
(Friday), late night and early morning Saturday in the continental US and
Canada, Tasmania and NZ.  Russia, Europe and the continental USA will see
activity on Saturday evening.  

The effects of the latest flare should extend the activity for the week end,
making for good aurora watching on Sat and Sun nights.

As usual, we cannot predict the extent of the auroral activity.  Solar
activity of this magnitude is really only just at the beginning of the scale
of space weather damage, so we don't expect the aurora to reach the Mexican
border of Southern Europe. 

We expect that the aurora may come as far equatorward as 1/3 of the way from
the Canadian border to the Mexican border.  Those of you not dedicated to
checking the sky every 1/2 hour, should go out and look at the northern
horizon around local midnight for your best chance.

Dr. Charles Deehr, Prof. Emer. Phys.     Ph. 907 474 7473 Fax 907 474 7290
email cdeehr at gi.alaska.edu
The Geophysical Institute                     
University of Alaska Fairbanks
903 Koyukuk Ave N             
Fairbanks, Alaska  99775-7320