Northern Lights this far south?
Jun 25th 2012, 9:33 pm
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
Posts: 5,174
Northern Lights this far south?
I wasn't at all sure but thought I saw the Northern Lights about five minutes ago; (no alcohol involved!) .. can it be?
Jun 25th 2012, 9:47 pm
#2
On the road again.
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: On Top of the World
Posts: 17,507
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
Very unlikely I would have thought,especially at this time of year, though there have been a handfull of reported sightings over the years as far south as the 33rd parallel.
Jun 26th 2012, 7:26 am
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 506
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
As part of a old hobby - read obsession, I get warnings by e-mail of likely Aurora activity.
There was a minor chance last week of a visible event in Northern Scotland. This week Solar activity is normal.
There was a minor chance last week of a visible event in Northern Scotland. This week Solar activity is normal.
Jun 26th 2012, 10:44 am
#4
Banned
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Nueva Andalucía.
Posts: 121
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
What are northern lights ?
Jun 26th 2012, 10:56 am
#5
On the road again.
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: On Top of the World
Posts: 17,507
Jun 26th 2012, 10:56 am
#6
Senior Moment
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
Jun 26th 2012, 11:02 am
#7
Banned
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Nueva Andalucía.
Posts: 121
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
They are great so where do they appear in the southern hemisphere ?
Jun 26th 2012, 11:22 am
#8
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
living out in the olive groves we seem to get such clear skys, especially compared to UK town living, no light pollution, just plain sky the way the ancients used to see it.
gives new meaning to "the night sky is my blanket"
gives new meaning to "the night sky is my blanket"
Jun 26th 2012, 11:24 am
#9
Senior Moment
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Jun 26th 2012, 12:14 pm
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 506
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
Post #6 has a brief explanation. Simply put, energy from the Sun - the Solar Wind - is attracted by the Earth's magnetic field where it is strongest, the poles.
This energy ionises the upper atmosphere hence the lights, rather like a fluorescent tube.
As the article in #6 says this is most frequent above the Arctic circle and by implication the Antarctic circle.
Now while there is a fair amount of land within the Arctic circle and adjacent to it, there is little in the Southern Hemisphere apart from Antarctica itself.
When there is a Solar Flare then the energy from the sun is greatly increased and the lights become visible further south, sometimes to the lattitude of Scotland and - rarely - further south. I am from Cheshire and, while alerted to the possibility, and even aware of an event by radio anomalies never saw lights.
If you look at the globe I suppose a big event may well be visible in the extreme South of the Americas. I would be surprised if there has been more than one or two sightings in Australia in the last hundred years or so.
Sorry if you know this.
This energy ionises the upper atmosphere hence the lights, rather like a fluorescent tube.
As the article in #6 says this is most frequent above the Arctic circle and by implication the Antarctic circle.
Now while there is a fair amount of land within the Arctic circle and adjacent to it, there is little in the Southern Hemisphere apart from Antarctica itself.
When there is a Solar Flare then the energy from the sun is greatly increased and the lights become visible further south, sometimes to the lattitude of Scotland and - rarely - further south. I am from Cheshire and, while alerted to the possibility, and even aware of an event by radio anomalies never saw lights.
If you look at the globe I suppose a big event may well be visible in the extreme South of the Americas. I would be surprised if there has been more than one or two sightings in Australia in the last hundred years or so.
Sorry if you know this.
Jun 26th 2012, 12:40 pm
#11
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
Posts: 5,174
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
Ok so it was very strong bubbles in the agua con gas!!!
Jun 26th 2012, 12:48 pm
#12
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Jun 26th 2012, 12:50 pm
#13
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
I don't think gaseosa can knock out a satellite or several as easily as the burps from the sun
they have been known to knock out landside national grid mains
they have been known to knock out landside national grid mains
Jun 26th 2012, 4:29 pm
#14
On the road again.
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: On Top of the World
Posts: 17,507
Re: Northern Lights this far south?
Post #6 has a brief explanation. Simply put, energy from the Sun - the Solar Wind - is attracted by the Earth's magnetic field where it is strongest, the poles.
This energy ionises the upper atmosphere hence the lights, rather like a fluorescent tube.
As the article in #6 says this is most frequent above the Arctic circle and by implication the Antarctic circle.
Now while there is a fair amount of land within the Arctic circle and adjacent to it, there is little in the Southern Hemisphere apart from Antarctica itself.
When there is a Solar Flare then the energy from the sun is greatly increased and the lights become visible further south, sometimes to the lattitude of Scotland and - rarely - further south. I am from Cheshire and, while alerted to the possibility, and even aware of an event by radio anomalies never saw lights.
If you look at the globe I suppose a big event may well be visible in the extreme South of the Americas. I would be surprised if there has been more than one or two sightings in Australia in the last hundred years or so.
Sorry if you know this.
This energy ionises the upper atmosphere hence the lights, rather like a fluorescent tube.
As the article in #6 says this is most frequent above the Arctic circle and by implication the Antarctic circle.
Now while there is a fair amount of land within the Arctic circle and adjacent to it, there is little in the Southern Hemisphere apart from Antarctica itself.
When there is a Solar Flare then the energy from the sun is greatly increased and the lights become visible further south, sometimes to the lattitude of Scotland and - rarely - further south. I am from Cheshire and, while alerted to the possibility, and even aware of an event by radio anomalies never saw lights.
If you look at the globe I suppose a big event may well be visible in the extreme South of the Americas. I would be surprised if there has been more than one or two sightings in Australia in the last hundred years or so.
Sorry if you know this.
S.Australia only extends to 44 South, (equivalent to the Spanish/French border) Tip of S.America little more. S.of Spain much less so highly unlikely at all.
I am up at 54 North in N.E England and I've seen them quite a few times, also when I was in Scandinavia.
Occasionally I've seen them by chance and other times became aware by radio anomalies much like yourself.
Very strange to swing the antenna North to hear ghostly reflected voice signals from the South.
Quite surprised you've never seen them in Cheshire, as they have been seen in the S.of England on a few occasions.
Like many things in life its all about being in the right place at the right time I suppose.
Jun 26th 2012, 4:32 pm
#15
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
Posts: 5,174