~Space Weather Update~ WEEKEND STORM WARNING

WEEKEND STORM WARNING: Polar geomagnetic storms are possible on Saturdy, Feb. 8th, when a solar wind stream and a minor CME are expected to hit Earth’s magnetic field. This will not be a major storm, but the double-impact could spark high-latitude auroras. Aurora alerts: text, voice

UNDER THE AURORAL OVAL: There is a place on Earth where you can see auroras almost every clear night even when there is no geomagnetic storm. It is under the auroral oval. The auroral oval is a donut of light around the poles which never goes completely dark because it is excited by energetic particles raining down from Earth’s magnetosphere. Feb. 3rd was a very good night to be under the oval:

“What an amazing night this was!” says Alan Dyer of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. “On the night of Feb 3-4, despite all indicators showing quiet levels of activity, the sky exploded with a stunning all-sky display of rippling curtains across the sky. Churchill is under the prime auroral oval, so we see Northern Lights almost every clear night, even when official indicators are reading low or no geomagnetic storms.”

“These images are from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a non-profit research institute for Arctic science and that also offers aurora-watching and other Arctic tours through the year, including polar bear viewing in the autumn,” he continues. “No words can describe the view of rapidly waving curtains of light rippling from horizon to horizon. All the tour group members left satisfied they had seen the celestial experience of a lifetime.”

According to NOAA forecasters there is only a 5% chance of geomagnetic storms on Feb. 6th. That’s more than enough, however, under the oval. Aurora alerts: text, voice

Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery

NOT EVERYTHING IS SPACE WEATHER: Snowflake photographer Ivo Dinsbergs of Riga, Latvia has something to report. “Its not exactly space weather, but still interesting,” he says. “The temperature on Feb. 5th was only -3°C, too warm for good snowflakes, but I went outside anyway.” When he looked through his lens, this warm snowflake gave him a rueful smile:

“Since 2010, I have taken hundreds of snowflake photos, but this is one of the most unique,” says Dinsbergs. “All other my snowflakes can be found here.”

Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 3 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet
explanation | more data

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 6.6 nT
B_z: 0.6 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1646 UT

Coronal Holes: 06 Feb 14

A solar wind stream flowing from the indicated coronal hole should reach Earth on or about Feb. 9th. Credit: SDO/AIA.