Possible Aurora Activity - Keep Looking North

Ref: http://spaceweather.com/
SOLAR EXPLOSION:
Magnetic fields around sunspot 484 erupted on Oct. 19th at 1650 UT,
sparking an X-class solar flare. The explosion hurled a coronal mass
ejection (pictured right) into space, but not directly toward Earth.
There is a slim chance that the expanding cloud will deliver a
glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Oct. 21st and trigger a
geomagnetic storm.

________________________________________________

Space Weather Message Code: WARK06
Serial Number: 82
Issue Time: 2003 Oct 20 2356 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-Index of 6 expected
Valid From: 2003 Oct 20 2357 UTC
Valid To: 2003 Oct 21 1500 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset

________________________________________________

The Earth has been in a sector of the solar wind that is conducive to
the production of active aurora. Aurora should be visible near
midnight from the northern US, Iceland, Scotland, Southern
Scandinavia, Northern Russia, Tasmania, and Southern New Zealand.

This will continue through the weekend. The first solar flare in 52
days occurred yesterday the 19th. The main effects of this flare are
directed away from Earth, but the side effects should be enough to
increase activity by the night of the 22nd.


-Sam Wormley
http://edu-observatory.org/eo/aurora.html

It was quite a strong aurora display after midnight in Norway, about
62 deg. north just after midnight last night Oct. 20/21.
Very strong continuos lasting band in the sky to the north.
While in zenith and and a bit down the south sky there was
long strong 'blinking' bands of aurora.
Hardly ever seen so long, many and lasting
'blinking' bands of aurora.
What is causing this 'blinking' (on/off) of the bands?

In the latter stages there was also a 'knotting' of the bands,
while still blinking. Colour: white slightly green/blue,
no reds observed.

Regards,
Bjørn Sørheim,
in Norway

Sam Wormley wrote:


Ref: http://spaceweather.com/
SOLAR EXPLOSION:
Magnetic fields around sunspot 484 erupted on Oct. 19th at 1650 UT,
sparking an X-class solar flare. The explosion hurled a coronal mass
ejection (pictured right) into space, but not directly toward Earth.
There is a slim chance that the expanding cloud will deliver a
glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Oct. 21st and trigger a
geomagnetic storm.

________________________________________________

Space Weather Message Code: WARK06
Serial Number: 82
Issue Time: 2003 Oct 20 2356 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-Index of 6 expected
Valid From: 2003 Oct 20 2357 UTC
Valid To: 2003 Oct 21 1500 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset

________________________________________________

The Earth has been in a sector of the solar wind that is conducive to
the production of active aurora. Aurora should be visible near
midnight from the northern US, Iceland, Scotland, Southern
Scandinavia, Northern Russia, Tasmania, and Southern New Zealand.

This will continue through the weekend. The first solar flare in 52
days occurred yesterday the 19th. The main effects of this flare are
directed away from Earth, but the side effects should be enough to
increase activity by the night of the 22nd.


-Sam Wormley
http://edu-observatory.org/eo/aurora.html

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Space Weather Message Code: WARK06
Serial Number: 83
Issue Time: 2003 Oct 21 1453 UTC

EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-Index of 6 expected
Extension to Serial Number: 82
Valid From: 2003 Oct 20 2357 UTC
Now Valid Until: 2003 Oct 21 2359 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset