[Aurora Alert] Geomagnetic warning and Aurora Watch (21 April)

The SWS has issued a geomagnetic warning and aurora watch for 21 April (UT) due to ongoing solar wind streams from a coronal hole. This can be anytime the UT day on the 21st.  The SWS predicts active conditions with the possibility of outbreaks of minor storms. 

If these geomagnetic events occur and result in aurora they could be seen from Tasmania weather permitting. The Moon is waxing and will not interfere with aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.

Current condition are not yet conductive to aurora.

• Velocity: 590.8 km/s at 1044 UT on 21 Apr 2018
• Bz: 0.49 nT at 1045 UT on 21 Apr 2018

This event is unlikely to be spectacular, but still worth a look as viewing conditions are good.

Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.

As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported consistently over the last few aurora, as well as bright proton arcs and “picket fences”. A double arc,  blobs, and curtains were seen in Septembers aurora  last despite the moonlight.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.  

A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is still not available.

SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 18/08
ISSUED AT 0631UT/20 APRIL 2018
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.

Earth is currently under the influence of a high speed stream
from a negative polarity equatorial coronal hole. Geomagnetic
activity at Quiet to Active levels is expected and at times may
reach up to Minor Storm levels if there are notable southward
Bz periods.

INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 20-21 APRIL 2018
_____________________________________________________________

GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
20 Apr:  Quiet to Active
21 Apr:  Quiet to Active

_____________________________________________________________
SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0117 UT ON 21 Apr 2018 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE

The solar wind is currently under the influence of a high speed solar
wind stream from a recurrent coronal hole. Geomagnetic activity
reached storm levels on April 20 and is forecast to be at unsettled to
active levels on April 21, with possible isolated minor storm periods.
If significant geomagnetic activity occurs, there will be a chance of
visible auroras for southernmost Australian regions (e.g., Tasmania
and coastline of Victoria) during local nighttime hours. Aurora alerts
will follow if significant geomagnetic activity actually occurs. Visit
the SWS Aurora webpage http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Aurora for current
aurora viewing conditions.

Our Aurora forecasting tool, located at
http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Aurora/3/1, may help to estimate regions
from where aurora would be visible.