An X-Class Solar Flare Is On Its Way

In case you have not been watching the news, the sun unleashed an X-class solar flare at 12:52 PM EDT (0852 PDT, 1652 UTC) on Thursday, July 12.

The resulting CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) is now streaking directly toward us at roughly 3 million mph and is expected to hit our atmosphere at 6:20 AM EDT (0220 PDT, 1020 UTC) Saturday, July 14.

If the weather cooperates, the Aurora will be visible low on the horizon from Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, Boston, and Halifax.

The camera batteries are charged, the memory cards are empty, the tripod and camera bag are at the front door waiting!  Meow Meow yippe-yo yippee-yay!!!

Aurora Forecast for Saturday, July 14, 2012

Links

Forecast page: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/NorthAmerica/2012/07/14

The current extent and position of the auroral oval in the northern hemisphere: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapN.html

Ovation Auroral Forecast: http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/