Posted on 11/10/2004 2:39:24 AM PST by Bandaneira
Night spectacular plays across the skies November 10, 2004 - 3:29PM
A multi-coloured light show is expected to play across Australia's southern skies this week as a major geomagnetic storm rages above the earth's atmosphere.
But metropolitan observers will likely have to travel to the country to see the aurora australis, or southern lights, because ambient light from city illuminations usually drowns out the view.
Perry Vlahos of the Astronomical Society of Victoria said it was difficult to predict the intensity of the lights, and city sightings were not impossible but the display was unlikely to be as spectacular as a similar event last year, which the Australian Space Weather Agency said was the most powerful in 70 years.
Mr Vlahos said, providing there are clear skies, successful sightings could be made this week as close to Melbourne as the Mornington Peninsula. "For anybody living on the coast and not living close to lights it would be a good thing," he said.
Many-hued shimmering and moving lights should appear in the night sky over the next two nights, the Australian space weather agency, IPS Radio and Space Services, said.
Since November 3, a massive sunspot has caused several explosions on the sun's surface, which have hit the earth's geomagnetic field and caused a major geomagnetic storm.
"This storm is expected to continue for the next two to three days as material now in transit from the sun interacts with the geomagnetic field," IPS deputy general manager Phil Wilkinson said.
"Reports of aurora have already been received from as far north as the Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran in northern NSW."
As well as creating a spectacular light display, the storm is likely to disturb the earth's upper atmosphere and interfere with technological systems including short wave or high frequency (HF) radio.
"HF radio remains an important tool for communications and surveillance within Australia for defence, air and sea transport and emergency service groups," Dr Wilkinson said.
Satellites may be damaged and aeromagnetic surveys could be adversely affected, he said, but the activity posed no direct threat to people on earth.
Leni
Sorry, I don't know how to post pictures on Free Republic. I am graphically challenged, and failed finger painting at kindergarten. The Age's web page has some photos. i think I might go for a drive tomorrow night out to a nice quiet spot I know of in the country just outside the Melbourne Metro region. This event is astronomically very significant. Ever since I was a little boy I have loved looking up at the stars at night.
Thanks for the picture. I must spend some time learning how to post pictures on Free Republic.
Chec the gallery at http://www.spaceweather.com for some awesome pics...
One of the reasons I love living in Florida is the clarity of the sky as there's little to no air pollution here. I'm in my back yard many times in the middle of the night (in pajamas and robe) watching wonderous meteor showers, eclipses and the like, in all their clarity. It's so awesome.
I did learn, however, to lie flat on a patio lounge chair to watch the sky. Otherwise, the neck holds out for about 5 minutes.
Leni
Leni
:-)
Lovely photo of the Aurora Borealis! Thank you!
You are welcome.
A clear view to the East is also very beautiful lately. Venus, Jupiter, & a crescent Moon. Luv it.
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