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General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: Leevibe on September 12, 2014, 05:42:47 PM

Title: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: Leevibe on September 12, 2014, 05:42:47 PM
Even though I was born in Canada, I've lived in Washington state my whole life and have never seen the aurora borealis except on TV. It looks like there's a reasonable chance to see them tonight. I'm so excited!

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/09/solar_activity_expected_to_pro.html
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: icecycle66 on September 12, 2014, 06:16:05 PM
Good luck.

The one time I saw them they came and went in a matter of minutes.
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: GermanCdn on September 12, 2014, 09:19:19 PM
Yeah, they're pretty quick.  Best bet is to get away from as much light pollution as you can, and then ....... wait.
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: Leevibe on September 12, 2014, 09:26:38 PM
Quote from: GermanCdn on September 12, 2014, 09:19:19 PM
Yeah, they're pretty quick.  Best bet is to get away from as much light pollution as you can, and then ....... wait.

Thanks for the tip. Alberta is where I was born by the way. Three Hills. Do you know of it?
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: GermanCdn on September 12, 2014, 09:45:11 PM
Yup, been there a couple of times (I'm not originally from Alberta, though no one really is).

Ft. Mac is actually one of the better places (besides Churchill or the territories) to see the lights, provided you don't freeze to death, get eaten by a bear, or runover by some 21 yr old oilsands GL driving his brand new $80k mud monkey.
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: Leevibe on September 12, 2014, 09:47:57 PM
Quote from: GermanCdn on September 12, 2014, 09:45:11 PM
Yup, been there a couple of times (I'm not originally from Alberta, though no one really is).

Ft. Mac is actually one of the better places (besides Churchill or the territories) to see the lights, provided you don't freeze to death, get eaten by a bear, or runover by some 21 yr old oilsands GL driving his brand new $80k mud monkey.

I need to make a pilgrimage up there some time to see what it's like. I've never been, although I hear there's a lot of wheat, or at least was a lot.
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: bcalla on September 12, 2014, 09:50:01 PM
Here is some information from the meteorologist from one of the Boston TV stations:

Northern lights could be visible as far south as Iowa and Connecticut on Friday night – a show worth staying up for! The initial impact should come during the afternoon, so as soon as it's dark start looking up. While auroras can be visible anywhere in the sky, a good place to start would be looking north. If possible, get away from any ambient light. When you're near a city, all the street lights, airplanes, and other sources of light pollution can rob you of the show! Head to the country, a rural spot if you don't mind a road trip.
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: GermanCdn on September 12, 2014, 09:55:54 PM
Quote from: Leevibe on September 12, 2014, 09:47:57 PM
Quote from: GermanCdn on September 12, 2014, 09:45:11 PM
Yup, been there a couple of times (I'm not originally from Alberta, though no one really is).

Ft. Mac is actually one of the better places (besides Churchill or the territories) to see the lights, provided you don't freeze to death, get eaten by a bear, or runover by some 21 yr old oilsands GL driving his brand new $80k mud monkey.

I need to make a pilgrimage up there some time to see what it's like. I've never been, although I hear there's a lot of wheat, or at least was a lot.

If you're thinking wheat, you're thinking Ft. Macleod, I'm talking Ft. McMurray.  It's (now) a huge industrial mining complex that smells like a mix of asphalt, heroin, and money.
Title: Re: Northern lights tonight?
Post by: gordo on September 13, 2014, 03:00:02 AM
Born and raised in Saskatoon but transplanted to Chicago.  The Aurora's became so second nature as a kid that I figured that everybody saw them.

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone