Aurora Watch and Geomagnetic Warning (8-9 December 2016)

The Australian Space Weather Service (SWS ) has issued an Aurora Watch and a Geomagnetic Warning for 8-9 December from a high speed solar wind stream from a large coronal hole. Evening skies have the Last Quarter Moon visible all evening setting in the morning. This will not interfere too much with aurora visibility.  It is possible aurora may be seen in Tasmania and Victoria if storms eventuate. G1 storm conditions have been predicted, (see also the NOAA site) most probably around midnight but we have been surprised with early evening aurora before.  However, conditions are expected to fluctuate rapidly through the evening so there may be several bursts of short lived aurora.

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”.

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

The all sky aurora camera in Northern Tasmania at Cressy is being upgraded and is not yet online.

SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 16/54
ISSUED AT 2338UT/05 DECEMBER 2016
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.

A large southern hemisphere coronal hole is likely to induce
geomagnetic disturbance from late 7-Dec.

INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 07-09 DECEMBER 2016
_____________________________________________________________

GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
07 Dec:  Quite, with late minor storm.
08 Dec:  Active to Minor Storm
09 Dec:  Unsettled to Active

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SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2333 UT ON 06 Dec 2016 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE

High speed wind streams from a southern hemisphere coronal hole are
expected to impact the Earth within the next 24 – 48 hours, possibly
resulting in significant space weather activity. Auroras may be
visible on the local nights of 8 and 9 December in Tasmania and
possibly the coastline of Victoria. Aurora alerts will follow should
favourable space weather activity eventuate.

Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au