Written by Andy Kale
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This website provides a real-time monitor of geomagnetic activity in the Edmonton area (though larger activity can be seen Alberta-wide). Join over 66,000 people using our free email alert service to know if there may be aurora visible tonight. The current probability of witnessing an aurora tonight is:
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| Current geomagnetic activity plots for the Edmonton region (and similar magnetic latitudes). Yesterdays information can be seen on the left, todays on the right. (Click on the image to enlarge).
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Written by Andy Kale
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There is a potential for increased activity tonight and for the next couple of days due to an inbound coronal mass ejection that accompanied a solar flare. A solar flare is a release of energy on the sun due to a rapid reconfiguration of the magnetic field near sunspots. This burst of energy (radiation) occurs across all wavelengths. A coronal mass ejection is an emission of plasma from the sun. It is these particles that will eventually reach the Earth and potentially 'rain-down' into the upper atmosphere treating everyone to a show.
The weather forecast for the next few days suggest little cloud (though the weather forecasts at the moment are less accurate!) providing clearer skies. See the Environment Canada cloud forecast.
Upstream conditions are measured by a satellite called ACE, sitting between the Earth and the Sun (orbiting the L1 point): https://services.swpc.noaa.gov/images/ace-mag-swepam-6-hour.gif For a good display we would like to see the particle density and speed increase increase (indicating the CME has arrived), together with a Bz being negative (indicating the interplanetary magnetic field is pointing south). This would give the best conditions to let the particles to get into the Earth's magnetic field (the magnetosphere).
The good news for aurora watchers is that these particles can disrupt the magnetic field of the Earth enabling trapped particles to also 'rain-down' for a couple of days. So if you don't get chance to see anything tonight, you might stand a chance tomorrow too! |
Written by Andy Kale
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Despite being a very quiet July, the aurora did make a little show...
Thanks go to and D and T Tanner.
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Written by Andy Kale
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Not much activity at the moment as we're still heading toward solar minimum. Hopefully cycle 25 will be more active!
Thanks go to Jeff Loitz and D and T Tanner.
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Written by Andy Kale
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Great pictures from May!
Thanks go to David Baxter, Adriene Bodungen, Rodger Philip, and David Marriott.
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Written by Andy Kale
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As winter drags on, some people manage to bring a touch of colour to the dark!
Thanks go to Mike Giuffre, David Baxter, and Han Phung.
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Written by Andy Kale
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It takes a hardy breed to head out into the cold dark night. However, the rewards for the brave can be quite spectacular...
Thanks go to D and T Tanner, and David Baxter.
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