David's Astronomy Pages (All Sky Camera) Aurora on night 2023-09-12 / 2023-09-13

Aurora  2023-04-23

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Aurora 2023-09-14

Aurora

Notes

Night Summary (Keogram) Plot Pictures Videos Magnetometer Stack Plots (for reference) Planetary K-Index Plot (for reference) Aurora Forecast, NOAA/Ovation (for reference)

- Major aurora activity on the night of 2023-09-12 / 2023-09-13. Activity was associated with an unexpected CME that hit Earth's magnetic field at 2023-09-12 12:37 UT) that sparked a G2-class geomagnetic storm (KP 5-6). Magnetically, the CME remained connected to our planet for more than 13 hours, allowing plasma from the CME's wake to enter Earth's magnetosphere. This fueled a display of auroras photographed as far south as Missouri (+40.2N) and Nebraska (+40.9N). Activity was visible from the Clair Observatory (+57N) from 2023-09-12  20:12 UT (21:12 LT) to 2023-09-13 03:35 UT (04:35 LT). Peak of activity based on brightest aurora was at around 2023-09-12  23:10 to 23:30 UT (2023-09-13 00:10 to 00:30 LT).   Observed activity included auroral rays to 30-35° altitude  at 23:15 UT (00:15 LT) and to 35-40° altitude at 01:35 UT (02:35 LT). -  Scandinavia magnetometers indicate activity from 2023-09-12 12:30 UT to around 2023-09-13 02:45 UT, with peak of activity between 23:00 and  02:00 UT      - Telescope Images from 2023-09-12 >>

Night Summary (Keogram) Plot

Night Summary Plot - North Sky (2023-09-12 / 2023-09-13 ) Times on plot are local times (BST  = UTC +01h ) Keogram shows cloud for almost the entire night, but with hints of aurora activity at xxx  LT

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Pictures

Panoramic View - Northern Sky

2023-09-12 20:12 UT (21:12 LT) Auroral arc emerging from dusk/twilight skies. Dew/Condensation inside AllSky Camera's hemisphere

2023-09-12 20:40 UT (21:40 LT) Auroral arc to 9-10°+ altitude

2023-09-12 20:43 UT (21:43 LT) Auroral arc brightening slightly with rays developing.

2023-09-12 21:16 UT (22:16 LT) Auroral arc at 11-15° altitude

2023-09-12 21:59 UT (22:59 LT) Rays developing in NNW sky

2023-09-12 23:06 UT (2023-09-13 00:06 LT) Curtains of activity moving eastwards

2023-09-12 23:10 UT (2023-09-13 00:10  LT) Numerous bright rays to 30° altitude. Tops of rays partially obscured by dew/condensation inside camera's hemisphere.

2023-09-12 23:14 UT (2023-09-13 00:14 LT) Very bright activity along whole auroral arc

2023-09-12 23:27 UT (2023-09-13 00:27 LT) Chaotic activity with rays to 30°+ altitude.

2023-09-12 23:43 UT (2023-09-13 00:43 LT) Aurora activity continuing, but weakening in NNE and NE directions

2023-09-13 00:05 UT (01:05 LT) Auroral arc weakening, but rays continue

2023-09-13 01:02 UT (02:02 LT) Rays to 25-30°+  altitude. Activity partly hidden in NW direction by cloud on horizon

2023-09-13 01:15 UT (02:15 LT) Bright activity along auroral arc with rays and developing curtains

2023-09-13 01:34 UT (02:34 LT) Somewhat chaotic activity. Rays to 35-40° altitude

2023-09-13 02:02 UT (03:02 LT) Curtains moving along northern horizon

2023-09-13 02:57 UT (03:57 LT) Activity declining away

30s exposures taken with Oculus All Sky Camera

AllSky View - TBA (north on right hand side of image)

2023-09-12 23:10 UT (2023-09-13 00:10 LT) - Normal Image Aurora arc and rays along entire northern horizon. Tops of rays largely obscured by dew/condensation on inside of camera hemisphere.

2023-09-12 23:10 UT (2023-09-13 00:10 LT) - Difference Image Auroral rays prominant and moving

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 Videos

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Magnetometer Stack Plots (for reference)

Magnetometer Stack Plots from Scandinavia (ordered by latitude) H Component - 2023-09-12 / 2023-09-13 Original data from Tromsø Geophysical Observatory (TGO), DTU Space (Technical University of Denmark) and Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI, displayed on SpaceWeatherLive http://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/auroral-activity/magnetometers). Note: Geomagnetometer activity at rvk (Rorvik, 64.95N), dob (Dombas, 62.07N), sol (Solund, 61.08N) and kar (Karmoy, 59.21N) stations are used as indicators for potential auroral activity that may be visible from my Observatory situated at latitude 57.32N  (Map of Stations)

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Planetary K-Index Plot (for reference)

Estimated 3 hour Planetary K-Index (NOAA) (K indices of 5 or greater indicate storm-level geomagnetic activity around earth)  (from http://services.swpc.noaa.gov) planetary-k-index_2023-09-12 / 2023-09-13 Not captured

SAMNET's magnetometer at Crooktree, Near Torphins  (Chart Explanation)

8-day Lerwick Observatory K Index - TBA

Planetary K-Index and other information (Space Weather Prediction Centre) shows KP Index reaching KP8 on 2023-04-23

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Aurora Forecast, NOAA/Ovation (for reference)

Aurora Forecast at 2023-09-12 19:00 for 20:04 UT (From Space Weather Prediction Centre,  http://www.swpc.noaa.gov )

Aurora Forecast at 2023-09-12 22:00 UT for 23:07 UT  (From Space Weather Prediction Centre,  http://www.swpc.noaa.gov )

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