Amazing Northern Lights Display

[Lindy]

Did anyone else see the most amazing Northern Lights display last night? It was seen around Chicago to MCI approximately 0300 local. (it may have been a larger area, just that is where we saw the display).

Many years of flying and many years of night freight, I have never seen such vibrant red and movement as I did last night. It looked almost "arced" similiar to a rainbow arc; the lights extended red, white, bluish-green in the arc and eminating vertical.

Truly a beautiful and wonderful sight to behold.

Would anyone know if it has something to do with the solar eruption/flash of late?

 

[banned username 2]

Yes, it has everything to do with the recent solar storm...

I saw a pretty good display on Sunday night northwest of Calgary on my way to Anchorage at FL400... Tnight is supposed to be even better... too bad I don't have a flight to go on tonight.

 

[VaB]

Geek alert

Beware. The following website may be one of the geekiest ones out there. I have no explanation why I know of it.

http://www.spaceweather.com/

 

[mar]

A solar storm.

Unfortunately it was cloudy in Fairbanks last night so I missed it. But this morning is clear so maybe there will be a little left over tonight.

Red is the rarest color to be seen so it must have been a heck of a storm.

After eight years in Alaska all I've ever seen is green. Oh well.

 

[UM#1]

I was doing the red eye last night from LAS to PIE. Not a cloud in the sky the whole way. Up at 410.When we were just north of Lubbock Texas we saw the red lights/glowing/streaking to the north/NE. It was simply amazing. I think it might have something to do with the solar flare. We could see it til we got to the gulf of mexico. I love this job.

 

[FSB99]

anyone know how long it will last? or is it just like, one-night only, get it while it's hot, kind of thing? i'll be up north on saturday, but down south till then.

 

[cl-65link]

I saw northern lights every year I lived in North Dakota, usually the best displays were in late summer-early fall. These are more active and brighter than usual due to the solar flare activity.

 

[logolight]

It looks like it's going to be cloudy in Chicago this evening as usual so no go tonight for Logolight...hey that kinda rhymed.

 

[BRA]

I saw it across new york state tonight. I saw green, blue, and red.....the red was the best part. The light even reflected off the wing. And i could see it barely while on the ground too.

 

[Flying Illini]

any chance of another show tonight?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I ditto what FalconCapt said about the lights during the Anchorage runs this week...

Between PANC and Yellowknife it was the best I have ever seen!

totally worth staying awake for...

 

[CitationLover]

saw it tonight near lewisburg, wv (wed night)

green with red

 

[MarineGrunt]

Any effects to the GPS or mag compass due to this storm?

 

[Typhoon1244]

Any effects to the GPS or mag compass due to this storm?

I heard it shut down the Maglevs for a few hours.

On the plus side, it's giving the chemtrails a striking hue...

 

[Northern Lights]

Northern Lights Rock!!!

 

[fr0g]

from spaceweather.com (I had it bookmarked before it was mentioned above .. < nerd glasses )

One of the most powerful solar flares in years erupted from giant sunspot 486 on Oct. 28th. The blast measured X17 on the Richter scale of solar flares. As a result of the explosion, a strong S3-class solar radiation storm is underway. The explosion also hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. The CME struck Earth's magnetic field on Oct. 29th and sparked an intense geomagnetic storm.

and..

Meanwhile, another CME is heading our way. It was hurled toward Earth by giant sunspot 486, which unleashed an X11-class solar flare at 2049 UT on Oct. 29th. The fast-moving cloud could excite more auroras when it arrives on or about Halloween.

and one last tidbit for those of you wanting to be at FL400...

S3

Strong

Biological: radiation hazard avoidance recommended for astronauts on EVA; passengers and crew in commercial jets at high latitudes may receive low-level radiation exposure (approximately 1 chest x-ray).

It says a S5 storm is the equivalent of 10 chest xrays!!

"how can it hurt you if it looks so good?"

 

[avbug]

Hmmm. I flew all day. And all evening and into the night. I didn't see any northern lights (or any rogue southern ones, either). All I saw was smoke.

But if you shine a flashlight through it with a lens cover, it does take on a sort of reddish hue.

 

[mar]

*Another* cloudy night in Fairbanks

Well, I got gipped again. More clouds.

But Barrow needs their soda pop so that's where I'm headed. The sun doesn't rise there for another 3 or 4 hours so maybe I still have a chance.

Later.

 

[banned username 2]

and one last tidbit for those of you wanting to be at FL400...

It says a S5 storm is the equivalent of 10 chest xrays!!

So THATS why I am glowing... I was wondering!

 

[huncowboy]

Man, they better call me to fly tonight!!!

FlyChicaga you better remove that chick on the left because I have already spent like 30 min staring at her in the last 2 days... don't even post the URL where I can see the full size 1600-1200 pixel image because I don't need to see that. Thx.

 

[Lindy]

Disappointed about last night...

Didn't have a spectacular display last night.

A little disappointed because the initial display was phenomenal!!

The red was eminating vertically, similar to the blaze of a fire, all while on the arc with the bluish/green/white color as a backdrop.


Oh well. I'll just enjoy my exposure to radiation....

 

[T-Gates]

don't even post the URL where I can see the full size 1600-1200 pixel image because I don't need to see that. Thx.

(wips drool from corner of mouth)

I want to see it.......

 

[Singlecoil]

Re: *Another* cloudy night in Fairbanks

But Barrow needs their soda pop so that's where I'm headed.

Don't forget the Pampers and Doritos, but try to keep it under 7500ft so the bags don't pop!

 

[Skyboss]

We saw them in Madison Wisconsin. They were reportedly tied to recent chemtrail sightings.

In other news. The Maglevs are back into full operation.

 

[banned username 2]

Do Maglev's create mini-Aurora's?

Efficient AND colorful!

 

[Skyboss]

Yes, they are actually purple.

 

[mar]

Gipped *yet* again!

Aaarrgghh. After a three and half hour mechanical delay we flew the whole stinkin' trip in the daytime....

Wouldn't have mattered much 'cause we were IMC for dam near all of it anyway.

Singlecoil wrote: <<Don't forget the Pampers and Doritos, but try to keep it under 7500ft so the bags don't pop!>>

Hey man! What kind of operation do you think we run here? We're flying in modern *pressurized* comfort.

Well we're pressurized anyway. Be safe.

 

[LearLove]

LGA to Burlington, VT last night at 19,000. Very nice, havent seen a display that strong since Sept 10, 2001, that night I was the last flight out of LGA to SYR after the 3 lines of TS move thru.

 

[Singlecoil]

Re: Gipped *yet* again!

Hey man! What kind of operation do you think we run here? We're flying in modern *pressurized* comfort.

That window in the ceiling with the compass rose on it must be a high tech Northern Lights viewing portal.

 

[Skyboss]

Re: Gipped *yet* again!

Aaarrgghh. After a three and half hour mechanical delay we flew the whole stinkin' trip in the daytime....

Wouldn't have mattered much 'cause we were IMC for dam near all of it anyway.

Singlecoil wrote: <<Don't forget the Pampers and Doritos, but try to keep it under 7500ft so the bags don't pop!>>

Hey man! What kind of operation do you think we run here? We're flying in modern *pressurized* comfort.

Well we're pressurized anyway. Be safe.

Should have taken Maglev.