10/10 at 18:00 CET:
The current data from the satellite recording the parameters of the solar wind are very promising and the magnetometers on Earth are already reacting. We will bring you more news throughout the night.
Current data (10/10/2024 18:00 CEST) of the solar wind. On the right, we always see an increase in values associated with the arrival of a denser cloud of particles. The yellow graph on the left shows an increase in the speed of the solar wind up to 800 km/s, which is why the CME arrived in less than two days. In the middle is a significant deviation of the magnetic field in the cloud, and on the right is the most interesting Bz component, which shows the possible influence on the magnetosphere and the occurrence of the aurora. The deviation must be large (preferably at least -10 nT) and ideally negative. In bright auroras, the deviation is usually -20 to -40 nT.
Author: NOAA/SWPC
Ejection of matter from the corona after a strong eruption on 10/9/2024
Author: NASA/ESA/SOHO
Update 10/10 at 19:10 CEST:
The aurora borealis has already become visible, as shown by webcams from Hungary. Source edökép.hu.
Northern lights on camera in Hungary (Borzont) 10/10/19:09 CEST
Author: idökép.hu
Update 10/10 at 21:30 CEST:
The aurora borealis is easily visible even with the eye from places where the sky is clear enough. Beautiful photos come mainly from central Bohemia and the southwest. Once it clears up, we might see a red glow and sometimes streaks of light. The activity could last all night.
David Černý’s photo is also a typical shot from the beginning of the night. At the top near the edge of the image is Polaris, while lower left the Big Dipper is completely bathed in the glow. Note that at the horizon you can also see the lower-lying green glow formed by oxygen, the excitation of which requires less energy in the lower layer of the atmosphere than for the excitation of oxygen in the higher and thinner layers of the atmosphere. Higher up, however, oxygen emits in the red region of the spectrum.
Aurora 10/10/2024 at 20:00 CET, Švihov, Canon EOS 1200D. Tamron adaptall 17 mm
Author: Antonín Hušek
Northern lights 10/10 at 20:32 SELČ, Velvary
Author: David Černý
Aurora Borealis on 10/10 from a plane over Germany between 22:30 and 22:40 CET
Author: Robert Šramo
Aurora Borealis on 10/10 from a plane over Germany between 22:30 and 22:40 CET
Author: Robert Šramo
Update 10/10 at 23:10 CEST:
The situation does not fundamentally change, almost half of the sky is still in red fire, but in many places it is covered by clouds. The glow is so bright that in places it shines through the mid-level clouds. When looking from a place further from the city, the dark red color of the cloud is also visible to the eyes. But the photos show that the entire northern part of the sky is red.
Aurora Borealis peeking through the clouds…10. 10. 22:59 CET. Lens, Canon EOS RP, focal length 24 mm, f/4, exposure 10 seconds, ISO 1600
Author: Jan Tichý
Aurora 10/10/2024 at 21:00 CET. Belá nad Cirochou, Canon 60D, Samyang 16mm F2, ISO 1600, 10 seconds
Author: Ján Gajdoš
Northern lights 10/10/2024, Rosovice
Author: Halka Bodnárová
Northern Lights over the Debris 10/10/2024 at 22:37 CEST, Samsung S22 Ultra phone
Author: David Rieger
Update 10/11 at 2:30 CEST:
It is already clear that one of the brightest auroras of the current maximum of solar activity is taking place. And unfortunately for many, this theater was covered by clouds. The values of the Bz component in the solar wind have fallen below -45 nT, which is a very low value and we have seen the largest deviations on Earth magnetometers since 2003, so the current aurora is matched only by the unexpectedly bright aurora of this May. If it’s clear, the stripes of the aurora extend to the zenith and you can see with the eye how they converge here (currently, for example, in the constellation Cassiopeia).
The aurora borealis over the northwest horizon next to the constellation Lyra. Jivina, Canon R6MkII, Sigma 35mm F2.8 ISO3200, 5 seconds.
Autor: Martin Gembec
Update 10/11 at 4:00 a.m. CEST:
The aurora borealis has weakened. Although the solar wind values are still favorable, they are noticeably weaker compared to the situation in the middle of the night. The glow is now only faintly visible to the eye, but the photos still show nice streaks. There is still a green glow above the north and a red glow above it.
The view of the aurora borealis on the night of October 10-11 was often obscured by low- and high-level clouds, but the columns of light and red color were easily visible to the naked eye. Here on 10/11 at 4:13 CEST, Canon R6MkII + Sigma 35 mm f2.8, ISO3200, exposure 5 seconds.
Autor: Martin Gembec
Northern lights photographed in the morning between 4:30 and 4:45. Canon R6 MkII camera, Canon RF 15-35 mm f 2.8 lens. Exposures of 6 and 8 seconds at ISO 3200. Slightly adjusted levels and contrast. (Editor’s note, note the change in color as sunlight shines into the upper parts on the right).
Author: Zdenko Sadovsky
Update 10/11 at 5:30 CEST:
The night is slowly ending and the aurora borealis is also fading. The photographs showed that the southern side of the sky was occupied by a huge red arc typical of larger geomagnetic storms. On the northern side of the sky until five o’clock streaks of light and a red color around them were clearly visible. Later, only hints remained and everything died down, although the solar wind still shows favorable values.
Bolid in the sky with the polar September 11. 10. 2024 at 4:49 am CEST. Canon 6Dmod + Sigma 8mm, 5 seconds ISO 3200.
Autor: Martin Gembec
Update 11/10 at 14:20 CEST:
If you’re wondering if the aurora borealis could still be seen on the evening of 10/11, the answer is ambiguous. The Earth’s magnetic field is still disturbed and the speed of the solar wind around the Earth does not decrease much. This in itself creates conditions for the formation of auroras. Any weaker density wave can wobble the magnetometers and a weaker aurora can be seen. It’s probably not worth being outside at night on purpose, rather you need to monitor the deviations of the magnetometers on the Earth and possibly the Bz polarity to see if it goes too far into the minus, which are basic indicators that can tell you something. More on spaceweatherlive.com.
Update 11/10 at 17:00 CEST:
Finally, a small correction. Looks like it’s all over. Values are calming down and probably nothing will come of it. We have to wait for more solar flares, and there will surely be many more.
