#aurora may

[without-ado]

Northern Lights

l May 2024 l Andrew McCarthy l Logan Parham l Shane Ware l Joseph Alsousou l Neil Thomas l Greg Sheard l Sebastian Voltmer l TheSolarCan

[dduane]

Today's auroral shenanigans

Relatively speaking, yesterday night (May 11/12) was a bit of "not much" for aurora-watchers, compared to the night of the 10th/11th. (Which, to be fair, was a most unusual event, and it wouldn't be surprising if it wasn't equaled for a long, long time.)

Nonetheless, the Sun continues to be in an interesting mood at the moment... specifically the big sunspot region AR3664, which is the one responsible for the auroral extravaganza of May 10th. You can just see it in this next image, getting ready to rotate away from us around the Sun's rightward limb.

(For those interested in scale: that complex of sunspots is about fifteen times the diameter of the Earth. You could drop the whole planet into the middle of the biggest one and lose it. A timelapse video of its growth is over here at YouTube, if you're interested.)

As AR3664 continues to spit out CMEs and flares, the NOAA has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for today, tonight and tomorrow—with the suggestion that conditions like those of the night of the 10th may in the relatively short term be about to repeat themselves.

This is a "watch" rather than a "warning," reflecting some uncertainty over exactly how the various incoming coronal mass injections are likely to behave on reaching Earth orbit. (Also, the CMEs aren't being aimed straight at us, but off to one side as the sunspot region rotates further and further toward the sun's edge: so this adds somewhat to the unpredictability of it all.)

The animation below comes from the SOHO spacecraft's LASCO C3 coronagraph instrument. It starts on May 10th and runs through until early on the morning of May 12th. You can see the newest incoming CMEs right at the end of it.

(BTW, I think the two bright objects to right and left of the Sun are probably comets passing through, as LASCO images normally mask out any planets that would be in view.)

Anyway, as for what this means for auroral activity tonight? It's tough to tell as yet. The planetary K index (which expresses the relative strength of geomagnetic storms) has dropped back down into near-baseline levels at the moment.

But when those new CMEs and the solar wind associated with them hits the atmosphere, things may change suddenly.

We'll soon see...

And an afterthought: AR3664 will soon be off around the Sun's edge, and invisible to us. It'll be interesting to see what happens to it after that.

The Sun takes 27 days to rotate, as a whole: the poles take longer, the equatorial regions a shorter time. In a couple of weeks or less, what will greet us, rotating around toward Earth's POV on that left-hand side? Will AR3664 have dissolved and vanished away, as sunspot groups so often do... or grown even bigger?

ETA 1, 12 May 2024, 1820 UT: Like a kitty coughing up hairball after cosmic hairball, AR has popped yet another X-class flare.

ETA 2, May 13 2024, 0100 IDT / 0000 UT: New G3 storm warning dropped.

[geopsych]

The Big Dipper set in aurora colors. We don't usually have aurora. It's the first time I've ever seen it!

[spiritofthemeadow]

ig - afternoondreams

[bucketsandraincoats]

the time has come to show the world my aurora cd

its not exactly like the logo but i LOVE how it turned out!! (doing VD was stressful. but fun)

[incognitopolls]

Anon lives in aotearoa new zealand and was pleasantly surprised to find out they could see the aurora too!! it was very pretty and they're glad they got to see it. Feel free to put your country in the comments but no pressure 👍

–

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[puppetmaster13u]

Because it is Mermay:

Originally did this art for one of @radiance1 prompts/story ideas, which also gives an idea of colors so.

[strigital]

"And that, kids, is how I met your mother"

nothing against the default meet cute with the sparkly boy but it would be better if a cliche fumbling down and falling on top of tav had happened just saying 💁

[godbirdart]

「 in time you will be found 」

[uesp]

"Who protecteth Nirn from roguish particles, ye ill from on high? The Aurora, curtain of light that wrappeth the globe in its folds."

--The Guardian of Stars

[deejayphoto]

Northern Lights in May

[malavoie1]

Aurora Borealis May 10 2024

Last night, something truly magical unfolded right from my backyard. As I gazed northward, the night sky transformed into a breathtaking canvas of vibrant colors. Thanks to a series of potent solar storms, the Northern Lights were visible much farther south than usual, and I was lucky enough to capture this stunning phenomenon.

The colors were extraordinary. Swirls of green and purple danced across the starlit sky, a display supercharged by recent solar activity. This year, the sun is at a solar maximum, brimming with sunspots that lead to coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These CMEs have been hurling charged particles towards Earth, enhancing the auroras and making them visible across vast regions—including here in Ontario.

The NOAA had issued a G4 geomagnetic storm watch, indicating strong auroras driven by the second-strongest level of solar storm. Although these events can affect power grids and communication networks, last night’s event was purely a visual treat with no reported disruptions.

Witnessing this natural wonder was a reminder of the beauty and mystery of our cosmos. For those who missed it, keep your eyes on the sky; the current solar cycle promises more such displays.

Processed with Affinity Photo v2 and Topaz Photo AI.

Camera: Pentax K-3

Lens: Tamron SP 10-24mm f/3.5 DI II

10mm / ƒ/3.5 / 30s / ISO 400

Taken: May 10, 2024

[dduane]

It’s not over yet! May 11/12 aurora watch continues

It was a good night for aurora watchers all over Europe on the evening of May 10th/11th, 2024. Here's a great brief timelapse video sequence from Berkshire in the UK (via @Rainmaker1973 over at the Bye Bye Birdie place).

Among numerous other displays, this particular broad, pink "banner" structure was widely observed across the UK and Ireland around midnight local time / 2300 UT. It persisted, twisting and morphing into a variety of new shapes, for something like half an hour. The night's display as a whole was definitely one for the record books.

The early projections at the NOAA site suggest that the power of the incoming geomagnetic storm will be significantly less on Sunday, May 12th. But the night of May 11th still holds possibilities, as for the time being the storm seems to be holding at the relatively high Kp 8 level (on a scale of 0-9).

NOAA space weather forecasters have observed at least seven coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun, with impacts expected to arrive on Earth as early as midday Friday, May 10, and persist through Sunday, May 12, 2024. 

Here are the early graphic projections for the zone of visibility on the evening of May 11 2024. Please note that (a) these are approximations and estimates, not hard and fast indicators of where the solar wind makes planetfall; and (b) as they did last night, they may well improve over the course of the day as newer and better data reaches the predicting devices and personnel.

The European animated projection comes via ITV (UK) weatherman Chris Page.

North American prediction images come via the Space Weather Prediction Center at the NOAA website. Right now (9:30 PM IDT / 2139 UT on May 11th) the NOAA's evening prediction animation for Europe and North America hasn't been generated yet. This still image (updated 1900 IDT) shows where the auroral viewing zone stands right now. The "likelihood of viewing" for Europe seems to have dropped pretty much into the 30-40% range.

That said, though, it's worth noting that the NOAA earlier issued yet another geomagnetic storm watch warning for 12 May, as the Sun apparently popped off both X-class and M-class flares early today; the effects of those are now in transit toward Earth. So we'll see in a day or so what comes of that. Sunspot region 3664, which has been responsible for all this excitement, is plainly not done spitting out flares just yet.

As regards tonight's predictions, it also remains to be seen whether what we get will be better... considering that last night's displays far outpaced everybody's expectations. I for one am quite willing to be surprised. 🙏

It's also worth noting here that so far today, the Kp index illustrated at the Space Weather Prediction Center's experimental aurora dashboard page—an indicator of the current strength of the geomagnetic storm—hasn't dropped off very much from last night's highs. It'll be interesting to see how this behaves as the day goes on. (ETA 2: image updated 11/05/2024, 2140 IDT)

Other useful resources for those interested in space weather generally, and solar weather:

NASA's SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) satellite's "The Sun Now" page

ESA Space Weather Service Network

NOAA (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Space Weather and Prediction Page

OVATION auroral prediction model from the DSCOVR spacecraft, via SpaceWeatherLive

AuroraWatch UK

[geopsych]

From up on the hill.

[spiritofthemeadow]

ig - afternoondreams

[coffeeghoulie]

Mushy May Day 26: "You Smell Nice"

After a long day, Aurora comes home to find Swiss in her bed looking for cuddles.

Thank you to @forlorn-crows for putting Mushy May together and to @ghuleh-recs for making the dividers <3

Aurora steps into her room, baring all of her fangs as she yawns. It's been a long day, and she can't wait to sink into her nest and curl up into a deep sleep.

The lights are off, but Aurora doesn't need them to sense that she's not alone right now. The hair on the back of her neck stands up straight, and a growl builds behind her teeth, tail lashing violently behind her. But as soon as the threat slips past her lips, it dies on the air.

Within the piles of pillows and plushies on her bed, gifts from her packmates and soft things that caught her eye, two golden glowing eyes blink sluggishly open.

"Swiss?" Aurora says, flicking on the lamp on her nightstand. The room is awash in soft yellow light. There's a loud, indignant grumbling, and sure enough, there's her fellow multi-ghoul, half buried in her bed, curled up on his side. He covers his eyes with a thick forearm.

"Hey, princess," he mumbles, voice sticky with sleep. "I ever tell you you've got nice digs?"

Aurora chuckles, leaning in closer to trail a purple-painted claw up his forearm, watching goosebumps rise in its wake. "You come in for cuddles?"

Swiss pulls his arm from his face, smiling coyly up at her. "I mean, if you're offering, I won't say no, Rory."

She rolls her eyes playfully, arms crossed over her chest. The hand that had teased over his arm moves up until she cups his cheek, feeling the sharpness of the stubble there. "I was planning on taking a shower, but then I'll come give you some cuddles, you needy, needy ghoul."

Swiss must be exhausted, because he only blinks up at her, enraptured by the little ghoulette towering over him.

"I mean," Aurora continues, "You're more than welcome to join me, but I don't think you're gettin' up any time soon, huh?"

He groans, shifting slowly, the spade of his tail padding against the mattress. "Yeah, you're right," he smiles. "Too comfy."

Aurora leans back on her heels. "Alright, you big lug, I'll be back in like ten minutes for some multi cuddles."

He flashes her a honey-slow grin. "I'll hold you to it."

The last thing Aurora hears as she slips into her bathroom is Swiss laughing at his own joke. The door shuts and latches behind her, and Aurora sighs in relief as she turns on the shower.

Her gills flutter as she steps under the spray, warm water erasing the tension from her shoulders. As much as her affinity to water makes her want to drag the shower out, she really doesn't want to drag it out, knowing that there's cuddles waiting for her.

Aurora reaches for the black bottle of her shampoo, lathering up quickly. Her blunt claws scratch at her scalp, and she groans in satisfaction. A quick, thorough rinse, and she grabs the matching conditioner. She had bought the set on an off day on tour, from a little store in some mall where the air had been intensely fragrant with a thousand different scents that even humans would find it overwhelming.

She finishes washing up, rinsing the conditioner she's let sit while she washed her body. She steps out of the shower, shutting the water off and wrapping herself in an incredibly soft, fluffy towel. It's all for show though, a little material comfort.

Aurora calls on her air, a magickal breeze circling her small form, evaporating the moisture from her body. She shivers, the air cold on her damp skin, before reaching up, running her fingers through the wet strands of pink hair plastered to her scalp. It dries quickly, and she sighs in relief knowing that her bedhead in the morning will at least be managable.

She dresses in one of Cirrus's shirts, hanging down almost to her knees, before she shuts off the bathroom lights and steps back into her bedroom.

Swiss hasn't moved, still curled up and comfortable. His breathing is slow, and Aurora could almost believe that he's fallen back asleep if it weren't for those gold-coin eyes slowly blinking open. His fingers twitch where they're laid out on the mattress as his eyes focus on her, as if he was sleepily reaching for her.

"Just a second, pretty boy," she hums, reaching over to shut the nightstand lamp off, casting the room into darkness before she climbs into her bed. Aurora grabs a soft blanket from the foot of the bed, crawling up to lay against Swiss, picking up his arm to tuck herself into his big spoon. She throws the blanket over the both of them.

Swiss rumbles, instinctively pulling the little ghoulette against his chest, burying his face into the nape of her neck.

"Mmmmmm, you smell nice," he murmurs, and Aurora shivers as she feels the press of his fangs against her skin. He drags the points slowly, not biting or marking, just mouthing at the back of her neck. "Like fuckin' candy, could just eat you up, princess."

She reaches up, grabbing the hand holding her to him, holding his wrist with both hands as she relaxes into her pillows and his touch. "Think it's the shampoo," she giggles, even as goosebumps spring up on her nape.

Swiss chuffs, burying his nose in her pink hair; she can feel his inhale. "What's it, strawberry vanilla?"

"Mmhmm," she purrs, her tail wrapping around his calf as she feels her eyes growing heavy. "And lavender, too."

"Smells good. You always smell good," he babbles. His purr rattles through his body, strong enough for her to feel it. Swiss kisses the back of her neck, purring before rubbing his cheek against it. "Bed time, princess?" He asks, thumb smoothing back and forth in an arc right over her heart.

"I think so," she yawns, pulling his arm closer as she presses as close as she can get to his chest. "I like this, I like you having me."

Swiss laughs, no more than a huff of an exhale. "I like having you. I've got you, princess, go to sleep."

And as much as Aurora loves bossing him around on stage, she listens to Swiss, letting sleep take her.