Aurora and Geomagnetic storm Happening NOW - G1 - Minor (15 September)

The SWS has issued a geomagnetic disturbance alert as the Kp has reached 5 and a minor solar storm is in progress. Camera only aurora are reported in the Huon in Tasmanian. There is also an updated Geomagnetic warning for 15-16 September (UT) due to persistence of a high speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole.  There is currently a G1 (minor storm in progress).  The conditions for aurora are marginal, Velocity: 680 km/sec Bz: -1.0 nT Density = 5.0 p/cc  but with dark skies it will be well worth keeping a lookout. The SWS predicts active conditions will continue for the next day or so.. The Space Weather Prediction Service has predicted a G1 storm on  the early morning of September 16th.

If the Bz becomes more negative the aurora may be seen more generally and possibly unaided eye in Tasmania, weather permitting. The Moon is waning, and will not significantly interfere with aurora. especially now Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.

Last weeks nearly full Moon aurora on Friday the 8th was readily seen (despite lots of cloud) with some spectacular images of Moonlight aurora (and Moonbows).  Some reports have come from the mainland as well. If this even causes aurora, they wil not be anywhere near as dramatic as that event, but still worth a look.

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 last weeks aurora 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  sill not available.

SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE ALERT
ISSUED AT 0825 UT ON 15 SEP 2017 BY SPACE WEATHER SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE

MINOR (G1 – MINOR) GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE IN PROGRESS (K OF 5 REACHED)
PRELIMINARY AUSTRALIAN REGION K INDICES FOR 15 09 17: 335- —-
_____________________________________________________________

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THIS EVENT ON THE SWS SPACE WEATHER STATUS PANEL,
HTTP://WWW.SWS.BOM.GOV.AU > SPACE WEATHER

SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/46
ISSUED AT 0005UT/15 SEPTEMBER 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.

The previous geomagnetic warning is extended for two more days.
The high speed streams associated with the coronal hole is expected
to persist for a few days. If the Bz component of the IMF turned
strongly southward for prolonged periods, earth could experience
minor storm conditions. Otherwise, expect mostly unsettled to
active condition for the next two days (15 and 16 Sep).

INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 15-16 SEPTEMBER 2017
_____________________________________________________________

GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
15 Sep:  Active
16 Sep:  Active

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.