The Northern Lights

[John Carmichael]

Hello All:   Last night, at about 11:30, I was in bed and glanced out the window and saw a very strange orange glow in the northeastern sky. I thought the mountains north of Tucson were on fire.  I got up and went outside and saw one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.  I knew right away what I was looking at.  It was the Northern Lights!!!!  My whole life I have wanted to see this wonderful spectacle of nature.  The sky was painted a salmon color from the horizon up to about 60 degrees altitude and streched from the northeast to the northwest. There were green rays of light shootings up from the horizon.  The event lasted about an hour and was constantly changing.   I've heard that it is extremely rare to see the Aurora Borealis this far south.  Yesterday, afternoon, it was reported on TV that an abnormally large solar flare has been spotted on the sun.  I'm not sure, but I think that these flares may last several days.  If we could see the Northern Lights this far south, surely those of you living farther north would have been able to see them even better.  So all of you, weather permitting, should go out tonight to see a possible repeat performance.  (You might even want to look at the sun today, using safe methods, to see if you can see the flare and associated sunspots).   Please let the List know if any of you saw the lights last night, or if you see them tonight.   Thought you'd be interested!   John Carmichael 925 E. Foothills Dr. Tucson Arizona 85718   Tel: 520-696-1709