The sun is currently hyperactive. In recent nights, the northern lights have danced in the sky and have been observed as far south as England. Now there have been several explosions on the sun again, which have created a new solar storm. At first it seemed that the northern lights would be strongest on Friday evening and overnight into Saturday. Now, however, the forecasts have changed. Tonight, both westerners and easterners could see the pink and green northern lights dancing across the sky. Pink northern lights observed at SotraNordlys, photographed in Knarvik outside BergenNordlys, photographed in Knarvik outside BergenNordlys, photographed in Knarvik outside Bergen – It looks like the most powerful aurora outbreak will be tonight, according to the latest forecasts. Then it will be a little less on Friday evening. So says Pål Brekke, space scientist at the Norwegian Space Centre. The solar storm leads to disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field and we want strong aurora activity. Pål Brekke Head of space research at the Norwegian Space Centre. Photo: Norsk Romsenter The solar storm will be able to create new strong northern lights on the night of Friday, according to Brekke. The exact time is difficult to calculate, but for now it looks as if we can enjoy seeing the northern lights on Thursday evening, and the night into Friday. The KP index is then at 8, reports the Meteorological Institute. This means that there are good chances of seeing the northern lights both in the north and south. Photo: Tiril Tveito The index measures magnetic activity in the Earth’s magnetic field. The scale goes from 0 to 9 and tells how wide the aurora oval is. But the celestial body will not be dancing alone and will be joined by a rare guest. Not previously observed Comet Comet C/2023 A3, known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, will pay a visit soon. – The comet has not been observed in historical times before. That’s what researcher in cosmology at the University of Oslo Håkon Dahle says. According to Dahle, we will also never be able to see the comet again in our lifetime. Dahle describes the comet as a dirty snowball with a diameter of about two kilometers. Photo: NASA – The comet consists of a mixture of dust and ice. When it approaches the sun, the ice will change to gaseous form. The comet releases dust and gas, which forms a tail behind the comet, which can be tens of millions of kilometers when it is close to the Sun. With a good camera, tripod and long exposure time, it should be possible to capture the moment, says Dahle. The comet will not only be visible for a few days, but several months. – It has been observed with larger telescopes since last year. Only after sunset on October 11 will the comet show itself to us. If the weather is clear, the comet can be seen with the naked eye. – As the comet moves further away from the sun, it will be possible to see it in a darker sky. From the beginning of next week it will be quite easy to see it. At least if you know which direction to look. And it is? Towards the west or in a south-westerly direction after sunset, according to Dahle. In 2007, Steinar Thorvaldsen had photos taken of both the northern lights and the comet Hale-bopp. Photo: Steinar Thorvaldsen Sitting ready with a camera One of those sitting ready with the photographic equipment is professor of computer science at UiT Steinar Thorvaldsen. Steinar Thorvaldsen, Professor of Computer Science at UiT. Former head of the astronomy association in Tromsø. – The sun is currently hyperactive. It is at the peak of its eleven-year cycle of sunspots, which generate a great deal of aurora. If you are lucky, it is possible to take fantastic pictures with both the northern lights and the comet. Thorvaldsen is going to Trondheim and there is currently 2 percent cloud cover reported there. – I’m ready, but the big tension is the weather. It is uncertain, but you have to look for good periods. Last weekend the sky exploded with colour. See the Northern Lights photos from news’s readers: Øyvind Iversen took this photo in Sandnessjøen. Sigrid Randers-Pehrson took this Northern Lights photo. Richard Gåsadden took this photo in Gravdal. Jannicke Søreng Svenning took this photo in Meløy. Svein Gunnar Kristensen took this photo in Sortland. Bård Einset took this northern lights photo in Bodø. Petra Göpfert took this northern lights photo in Alta. This photo was taken by Edvin Ellingsen in Øksnes. Published 09.10.2024, at 21.22 Updated 10.10.2024, at 23.09
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Several powerful solar storms bring northern lights – news Nordland
