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
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)
G4 G4 G4!!! AURORAAAASSSS!!!!
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g4-severe-watch-effect-12-november
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...
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
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!!
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? 😬
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.
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!)
These folks are on standby if you need help.
Prof. Sam Lawler
BunNICKula🇨🇦