Mastodawn

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 10

Currently trying to decide if it's worth driving to a dark sky site tonight (~1 hr drive, I know, I'm super lucky) even though some high clouds are moving in, or if I should wait until tomorrow night, when currently the forecast looks better (but it looked really good for tonight earlier today...the forecasts are not very accurate). There's also a better chance for auroras tomorrow (but those forecasts are even less accurate...)

Hmmmmm

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 11

I did go drive out to Bortle 2 skies with my family and it was INCREDIBLE (thanks for encouragement, fediverse).

The only light coming from stars, totally silent except for coyotes, owls, and I think maybe whooping cranes (!!) flying over. Barely any auroras, but the stars were stunning.

(There were a fuck-ton of satellites though, of course)

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 11

Going to be really really good auroras the next couple of nights!! https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/geomagnetic-storm-watches-11-13-november

Geomagnetic Storm Watches for 11-13 November | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 11

G4 G4 G4!!! AURORAAAASSSS!!!!

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g4-severe-watch-effect-12-november

G4 (Severe) Watch in Effect for 12 November | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

Here it cooooomes!!!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

I... honestly don't really know what most of these plots mean in terms of aurora viewing. But I can see lots of graphs are shooting upwards or downwards quite dramatically! I think that's probably good https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/auroral-activity/real-time-auroral-activity.html

Real-time auroral activity

Below you will find the latest solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field data covering the past 24 hours as measured by the Advanced Explorer (ACE) spacecraft located at the Sun-Earth L1 point. These parameters are the first parameters used to predict auroral activity. The redder the plots get...

SpaceWeatherLive.com

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

HOLY SHIT THE SKY IS FUCKING INCREDIBLE AAAAHHHHHH WOWWWWWWW

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

I haven't yelled that many (overwhelmingly excited) swear words at the sky for a long time. WWOOOOOWWWWW. Reddest auroras I've ever seen!! Usually it takes a long time exposure/CCD camera to see red at all. This is BRIGHT!! You can actually see easily outside by aurora light!!!!

Warming up for a few minutes before heading back out

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

Note the Starlink train in the first picture. How do you like them protons, Musk?!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

HOLY @$^@#($!~@#)!!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

So much red!!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

The auroras were still going strong at 2:30 am, and when I went out at 6 to take care of goats and chickens. Auroras always seem to have a flickery, shimmery quality after midnight. I've never seen that shimmer before midnight, only in the morning hours. Any experts know why?

The auroras slowly disappeared into the lightening dawn sky. Looking forward to more tonight!!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 12

I can't stop thinking about the auroras. That was amazing. And there very likely will be more tonight!! https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g3-strong-geomagnetic-storming-continues-g4-severe-still-expected

...I wonder how it's going up there for Starlink and the other thousands of sats whizzing by each other? 😬

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

The sky isn't quite dark enough to see if there are auroras yet, but the fucking Starlinks are easy to see. Due to the Starlink main orbital shell configuration, there is almost always a Starlink or two visible crawling across the sky at the same elevation as the North Star from my latitude (lots more in other parts of the sky too... sigh.)

Remember when Starlink publicly and loudly promised they'd get fainter than magnitude 7? That sure would have been nice. Liars.

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

Hard to tell through a window, but I think the sky looks kinda red again! Time to set up my camera, put on lots of layers, and head outside. Wooo!!!

Prof. Sam Lawler

yes yes Yes YEs YES YES YES!!!

PURPLE! RED! ORANGE!! GREEN!!! WOWWWW

(It was not this bright naked-eye, but these colours are all totally visible! Incredible!)

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

More more more!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

This is looking SOUTH. Holy crap.

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

Well, this is embarrassing. Looks like I finally cursed at Starlink enough that I managed to open up some kind of portal in VLEO right over my barn. Sorry everybody! I promise I'll help clean up.

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

More portal pictures for good measure. Though I suppose I should be careful not to give the techbros any more ideas about awful things to put in orbit...

(Everyone knows I'm kidding, right? I'm not pulling an Avi Loeb here. Auroras are AWESOME.)

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

Sky's back to normal, guys! I'm hopeful the portal sucked up at least a few Starlinks and abandoned rocket bodies before it closed, though. I'll try again tonight!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

I just had a local radio interview about the incredible auroras we've had the last 2 nights, and the host started asking me about 3I/ATLAS! Fortunately not in a conspiracy theory kind of way, just in a "hey I've got an astronomer on, time to ask questions" and he didn't tie 3I to the auroras.... But I'm still going to throw some blame at @AkaSci for suggesting this!!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

It took me until more than halfway through day 2 of ridiculous auroras to realize why my neck is all messed up today.

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

Looking less likely for auroras tonight. Which is ok I suppose... I need to sleep more tonight!

@sundogplanets Weather here is a thick layer of haha you thought you were going to see an Aurora clouds.

Bob Blaskiewicz 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 🇬🇱Nov 13

You'd think that I'd feel slightly ripped off by the sky since I did not get to see the auroras (unlike, you know, Mexico), but amateur astronomy teaches one a zen-like stoicism about accepting the weather the universe gives you.

Challis2070 Nov 14

@sundogplanets Oh you mean "When it's finally clearer for Challis, it is now much less likely!" *woe* (one day, one day I'll see it!)

🇨🇦Tom - Crinstam Camp🇨🇦Nov 14

@sundogplanets Did you see this?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/a-magical-evening-vivid-northern-lights-delight-entrance-manitobans/

‘A magical evening’: Vivid northern lights delight, entrance Manitobans

Manitoba sky gazers have been utterly spoiled this week as the northern lights lit up the skies in particularly vivid fashion.

CTVNews

rk: it’s hyphen-minus actually Nov 13

map of solar eclipse overlaid with google searches for “eyes hurt” dot jaypeg

Parade du Grotesque 💀Nov 13

No auroras around here, and my neck is doing fine, thank you very much.

I would not mind it being a little sore, to be honest. 😉

Estarriol, Terrorist Dragon Nov 13

@sundogplanets jealous....

@sundogplanets The birds in my back yard want to know who is shuffling through the dead leaves at 10pm ...taking pictures with his phone!

The Other Brook Nov 13

@sundogplanets @AkaSci So why do you think the aliens controlling 3I/ATLAS triggered such an impressive aurora display? Are there messages encoded in the lights and we just aren't advanced enough to understand them?

Michael Busch Nov 13

@theotherbrook @sundogplanets @AkaSci

You joke.

But I have gotten spam from people who pretend that "comets are actually aurora".

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

@michael_w_busch @theotherbrook @AkaSci I got one saying that Starlink satellites are actually holograms from NASA. Satan was also involved somehow. But I haven't gotten the comets=auroras one!

The Other Brook Nov 13

@sundogplanets @michael_w_busch @AkaSci Holograms from NASA is my new band name.

@sundogplanets Hi Sam, do you have videos so we all can get twisted necks watching the show?

Szescstopni Nov 13

@sundogplanets Keep on fighting. And develop a method of sucking up mirrors.

MissConstrue Nov 13

@sundogplanets I couldn’t believe I got aurora all the way down here in Texas.

DoomsdaysCW Nov 13

Wow, nice! @MissConstrue Unfortunately, we had too many clouds here in Maine. @sundogplanets

AI6YR Ben Nov 13

🤪

@ai6yr @sundogplanets I nominate Sol Invictus for <DEITY>: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus

Sol Invictus - Wikipedia

staringatclouds Nov 13

@sundogplanets Gorgeous pictures

On a side issue do you know if this geomagnetic storm is having any effect on the thousands of Starlink satellites ?

Part of me is hoping yes

Another part is reminding me I'm underneath the damn things

AkaSci 🛰️Nov 13

@sundogplanets
What's the probability that the auroras would appear just after 3I/ATLAS emerged from behind the Sun?
Those are very strange shapes, we should ask NASA and ESA to quickly decode the hidden messages in them.
Are these auroras distractions so that we do not notice the strange maneuvers conducted by 3I/ATLAS?
The red color is a warning. Will we heed it?
Didn't you feel tonight that you were being watched? 👽

Inquiring minds want to know.
AL

Michael Gemar Nov 13

@AkaSci @sundogplanets My god, it’s so obvious now…!

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

@AkaSci If I get an interview request for 3I and auroras tomorrow, I'm 100% blaming you! 😀

Cat West Nov 13

@AkaSci @sundogplanets Oh, I needed this! Thank you!

AI6YR Ben Nov 13

@AkaSci @sundogplanets That last one looks like an avenging angel 😬

ShadSterling Nov 13

@sundogplanets portals in orbit… if satellites had portals on them (like from the game), maybe we wouldn’t have to worry so much about collisions.

Obviously we can’t do that, but I’d kindof like to know what the video game would be like

AI6YR Ben Nov 13

@sundogplanets Wow!!!!

Coles Street Pothole Nov 13

@sundogplanets That last one looks downright Satanic! 😱

ferricoxide Nov 13

@sundogplanets

Sadly, while we don't have clouds. tonight, there's a thin haze that seems to be mostly blocking things out

@sundogplanets oh my gosh these photos are amazing

netop://ウィビ Nov 13

@sundogplanets Nah, that's a phoenix!

thefathippy Nov 13

Very Ghostbusters climax...but real! Awesome!

@sundogplanets Spectacular! Thank you for sharing. 😊

@sundogplanets holy bajoley.

Leave it!!! It can suck that garbage straight out of this dimension.

DoomsdaysCW Nov 13

@sundogplanets Never stop cursing Starlink! (And I love your post and photo!)

Mike Olson Nov 13

@sundogplanets Wow!

BunNICKula🇨🇦Nov 13

These folks are on standby if you need help.

Virginicus Nov 13

@sundogplanets Need a volunteer to go through the portal?

Kat the Leopardess Nov 13

@sundogplanets It looks really beautiful!

Johanna, CanCon variety Nov 13

@sundogplanets clean up? Heck naw, I’m packing my go bag let’s see what’s IN there!

Coles Street Pothole Nov 13

@sundogplanets Best pics I've seen! 🤩

Denis Gilbert Nov 13

@sundogplanets Enjoy mother Nature's best light show!

Ari "Two Sheds" Jackson Nov 13

@sundogplanets BEST pics I've seen! Wowwww!

Michael Gemar Nov 13

@sundogplanets Wow!

The Eddie Show 📷🎧❤️Nov 13

Beautiful! I'm curious how the animals respond to the aurora.

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

@TheEddieShow It was bright enough to see last night with the auroras, so I tried leading the goats into the barn without turning a light on for them. They were NOT happy about that. I had to turn the light on. So...I'd say... they're not impressed!

The Eddie Show 📷🎧❤️Nov 13

Nonplussed Goats! (band name)

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

@TheEddieShow I love it!!

❄️SnowyIn🇨🇦❄️Nov 13

@TheEddieShow
oh great question! Following to read the answer. @sundogplanets

RootWyrm 🇺🇦

@sundogplanets I wish I didn't know so much about these so that I could just enjoy them. Instead of going "holy fuck there absolutely should not be these colors this far south, please tell me somebody's watching the cable amps."

Prof. Sam Lawler Nov 13

@rootwyrm Yeah we're well into the "someone should go check on our satellites" range... https://xkcd.com/2233/

Aurora Meaning

xkcd

RootWyrm 🇺🇦

@sundogplanets by some measures, we're approaching "geophysicists about to lose their shit." Especially since I don't recall anywhere near this many G4's during the '00-'03 window. And these have all been small stuff - X5.1 for tonight, didn't break X9 last year.