Big sunspot 798 exploded twice yesterday, August 22nd, and hurled a pair of coronal mass ejections apparently toward Earth. Geomagnetic storms are possible when the clouds arrive. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras during the nights of August 23rd and 24th. High latitudes are favored: e.g., Canada, Alaska and northern-tier US states from Washington to Maine.
As predicted, a pair of coronal mass ejections (CMEs ) hit Earth's magnetic field this morning, setting off a strong geomagnetic storm--now subsiding. In Yampa, Colorado, physics professor Jimmy Westlake took this picture at 4 a.m. MDT:
"Bright moonlight illuminated the foreground nicely, but definitely cut down on the sky contrast," says Westlake. "Still, it was a colorful and beautiful storm to the unaided eye!"
Although the storm is subsiding, it's not over. If you missed the auroras this morning, you might get another chance to see them tonight. Stay tuned!
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