1. Aurora Alert
Following a massive X5-class solar flare on the Sun yesterday, Earth is expected to be hit by the resulting coronal mass ejection (CME) today. This cloud of energised gas is expected to trigger auroral displays all over the world, including Ireland, throughout Thursday night and Friday morning, March 8th/9th.
When to View
There is a significant chance that the aurora borealis (northern lights) will be visible from Ireland. We suggest keeping an eye on the northern sky throughout Thursday evening and into Friday morning. If it appears, the aurora will have a faint glow and if the activity is particularly strong it may have a green and/or red colour. The aurora will most likely be visible just over the northern horizon, but a strong display can result in the aurora being visible all over the sky.
Where to View
Ideally it is best to watch the aurorae from a location as far north as possible, but considering on the strength of this particular CME from the Sun, they may be visible further south. We recommend picking anywhere that has a dark sky with a clear northern horizon. This can be a location just outside a town or city, or a dark parkland area.
Report Your Observation
If you see the aurora borealis, please let us know what you saw by emailing observe@astronomy.ie. We will aim to include reports and photographs in an upcoming issue of Astronomy & Space. As geomagnetic storms can affect radio communications we also welcome reports from amateur radio operators.