David's Astronomy Pages (All Sky Camera) Aurora on night 2024-04-16

Aurora  2023-10-22

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Aurora 2024-04-16

Aurora

Notes

Night Summary (Keogram) Plot Pictures Videos Magnetometer Stack Plots (for reference) Planetary K-Index Plot (for reference) Aurora Forecast, NOAA/Ovation (for reference)

- Auroral activity on the night of 2024-04-16 associated with Kp 6 (G2) geomagnetic conditions. Skies in NE Scotland were partially clear and saw part of the auroral display Activity was visible from the Clair Observatory (+57N)  from 19:40 to 23:40 UT (20:40 to 21:00 LT) Observed activity an auroral arc up to 12° altitude,. with auroral rays up to 35-40° (reaching up to 55° at 22:22 UT (23:22 LT) ). View of aurora spoilt by cloud and bright moonlit conditions. -  Scandinavia magnetometers indicate show a  sharp spike in magnetometers readings at 19:00 & 22:30 UT      - Telescope Images from following night 2024-04-17 >>

Night Summary (Keogram) Plot

Night Summary Plot - North Sky (2024-04-16 / 2024-04-17 ) Times on plot are local times (BST  = UTC +01h ) Keogram plot affected by cloud Aurora visible on keogram at ~ 22:09 to 23:15 LT (21:09 to 22:15 UT)

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Pictures

Panoramic View - Northern Sky

2024-04-16 21:09 UT (22:09 LT)  First signs of auroral activity in form of an auroral arc, emrging from behind cloud

2024-04-16 21:40 UT (22:40 LT)  Continuation of auroral arc to 10-12° altitude (artefact in  NE Sky is associated with a moonlight reflection)

2024-04-16 21:55 UT (22:55 LT)  Auroral rays in NW sky to 25° altitude

2024-04-16 21:56 UT (22:56 LT)  Brightening of auroral arc with rays to 25-30° altitude  in NW and NNW sky

2024-04-16 22:02 UT (23:02 LT)  Rays to 35-40° altitude across entire NW to NE sky Bright patch at 5° altitude in NNW sky is likely light relection off cloud from nearby town

2024-04-16 22:06 UT (23:06 LT)  Rays to 35° altitude across entire WNW to NE sky. Clouds approaching from NW-N direction

2024-04-16 22:10 UT (23:10 LT)  Auroral arc with rays to 35° altitude across WNW to NNE sky. Clouds approaching from NW-NNE direction are gradually covering the auroral arc

2024-04-16 22:17 UT (23:17 LT)  Auroral arc with rays to 30-35° altitude across WNW to NE sky. Clouds  gradually hiding auroral activity

2024-04-16 22:22 UT (23:22 LT)  Possible auroral rays to 55° altitude in NW sky. Clouds continue to cover auroral arc and lowrer rays

2024-04-16 22:34 UT (23:34 LT)  Auroral arc possibly weakening but bright rays continue in WNW-NW Sky to 30° altitude

2024-04-16 22:45 UT (23:45 LT)  Any continuing auroral activity is now hidden by cloud

30s exposures taken with Oculus All Sky Camera

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 Videos

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Magnetometer Stack Plots (for reference)

Magnetometer Stack Plots from Scandinavia (ordered by latitude) H Component - 2024-04-16 / 2024-04-17 Very short but sharp spike in magnetometers readings at 19:00 & 22:30 UT Original data from Tromsø Geophysical Observatory (TGO), DTU Space (Technical University of Denmark) and Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI, displayed on SpaceWeatherLive http://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/auroral-activity/magnetometers). Note: Geomagnetometer activity at rvk (Rorvik, 64.95N), dob (Dombas, 62.07N), sol (Solund, 61.08N) and kar (Karmoy, 59.21N) stations are used as indicators for potential auroral activity that may be visible from my Observatory situated at latitude 57.32N  (Map of Stations)

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Planetary K-Index Plot (for reference)

Estimated 3 hour Planetary K-Index (NOAA) (K indices of 5 or greater indicate storm-level geomagnetic activity around earth)  (from http://services.swpc.noaa.gov) planetary-k-index_2024-04-16 / 2024-04-17 Not captured

SAMNET's magnetometer at Crooktree, Near Torphins  (Chart Explanation)  - Shows a large spikes in activity at 19:00 & 22:00 UT

8-day Lerwick Observatory K Index Showing a KP 6 (G2) spike in the evening of 2024-04-16

Planetary K-Index and other information (Space Weather Prediction Centre) shows KP Index reaching KP5 in evening 2024-04-16 UT.

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Aurora Forecast, NOAA/Ovation (for reference)

Aurora Forecast for 2024-04-16 22:01 UT (From Space Weather Prediction Centre,  http://www.swpc.noaa.gov )

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