OT Northern Lights

CGtractor · Nov 6, 2011

My 15 yr old daughter and I would like to take a trip to see the northern lights within a year. I"m looking to correspond with people from the northern U.S. that have first hand knowledge of this. I am hoping to stay in U.S. to avoid the passport expense. Thanks

Bob M · Nov 6, 2011

The southern shore of Lake Ontario, anywhere between Oswego NY and Fort Niagara NY is very good. Hamlin Beach State Park about 20 miles west of Rochester is particularly good spot. The nearest civilization (hence light pollution) is a good 40 miles distant on the Canadian shore.

I've also had good luck in the southern NY/western PA mountains. The area is very sparsely populated and thus has virtually no light pollution. It also seems to have fewer clouds than along the Ontario lake shore.

Best viewing I've experienced however has been in northern Ontario - in the lake country north of North Bay.

Happy hunting - a good aurora display is a wonder to behold!

Keith Williams · Nov 6, 2011

CGTractor,
The sun is entering a period of high sunspot activity. The sunspots trigger corronal ejections that if pointed at the earth produce Northern light displays.
I like to look at the following web site:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Astronomy picture of the day. If you look through the archive of the pictures you can see some wonderfull pictures of Northern lights.
Enjoy
Keith

Janicholson · Nov 6, 2011

Any location above the 45 parallel with sparse population is great. The less chance for clouds the better. Montana, North Dakota, Northern MN. are all great places. Spectacular displays are not frequent. Color and coverage in the sky depend on random solar flares disrupting the ionosphere and making discharge photons from charged gas molecules.
Sunspots are on the rise, so looking to NOAA forecasts of sunspot activity will help. Planning is tough, so making it a week to two weeks will be more likely. Some quiescent times go whole years with few visible displays, Best of luck. Jim

JRSutton · Nov 6, 2011

Janicholson, and Keith - since you both brought up sunspot activity, I'm wondering if you're also into ameteur radio?

Just curious.

KB1JRU here.

Keith Williams · Nov 6, 2011

JRSutton,
No on the radio, BS in Astro-Physics, Math, and Computer Science. Just a science kind of guy.
Keith

CNKS · Nov 6, 2011

Probably not happen again any time soon, but they could be seen as far south as the Wichita, KS area a few days ago, so I read.

Janicholson · Nov 6, 2011

Around it yes, in it no. I am the Radio license tester here in central MN, but do not know what is on the tests. (confidential) I do teach radio theory and have students build crystal radios and other stuff. Hallicrafters forever! Jim

TMonton · Nov 6, 2011

Simply peak the grid ... dip the plate... I=E/R

CET certification ? I've been licensed from DC to light since '79 but I never got caught up in amateur radio for some reason.

(quoted from post at 04:28:59 11/07/11) Around it yes, in it no. I am the Radio license tester here in central MN, but do not know what is on the tests. (confidential) I do teach radio theory and have students build crystal radios and other stuff. Hallicrafters forever! Jim

Keith Williams · Nov 6, 2011

Look at this image.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111028.html

OT Northern Lights

CGtractor

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Bob M

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Keith Williams

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Janicholson

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JRSutton

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Keith Williams

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CNKS

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Janicholson

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TMonton

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Keith Williams

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