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Saturday, March 28, 2015

 

Aurora Watch (28-30 March)

Still another Aurora Watch issued by the Australian IPS for the 28th (yes tonight) to the 30th due to increased solar wind speed from a Coronal Hole. The 29th seems the most likely time (although that might be in the early morning of the 29th). Geomagnetic activity is rate at only "unsettled to active" rather than storm levels but sub storms may occur, and aurora, if they occur, are likely to be seen only in Tasmania (possibly Victoria if there is a substorm).

Aurora can occur at any time after nightfall (although around midnight or just after seems to be common). Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too.

The waxing Moon will interfere a bit in the early evening, but late evening/morning should be okay.


The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful),
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2233 UT ON 27 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE

A high speed solar wind stream is expected to impact the Earth
sometime within the next 24-48 hours and should remain effective for
several days after arrival. The high speed stream is caused by a solar
feature that has persisted on the Sun for several months and on
previous rotations has produced geomagnetic activity sufficient to
produce Aurora potentially viewable from Tasmania. An alert will be
issued should favourable conditions for producing Aurora be observed.

2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
Date Ap Conditions
28 Mar 12 Unsettled
29 Mar 20 Active
30 Mar 15 Unsettled to Active

Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au

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