NORTHERN LIGHTS UPDATE FOR IRELAND AND THE UK TONIGHT
The northern light over Rossnowlagh Beach, Donegal, Ireland Saint Patrick’s night 2015 during a big solar storm. Photo Donegal Weather Channel / Kenneth Mc Donagh Photography
G2-class geomagnetic storms has become less intense over the late afternoon and evening when a stream of high-speed solar wind impacted with Earth's magnetic field. The stream of high-speed solar wind continues to hit earth tonight and will do so for the next 24 hours or so.
The solar wind stream causing this display is flowing from a canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere which can bee seen below.
Best chances of seen anything will be after mid night in the west and northwest of Ireland when a clearance will move in over the west and northwestern areas with clear spells also in places.
Much of Scotland expect for northern parts will be under cloud tonight. Cloud will also increase over Wales overnight into tomorrow morning with the best chance in England been in the south and southwest.
The Aurora is currently visible up in the north of Scotland at the moment.
There still is a good risk that the aurora will show up again later. I will update over the night.
Aurora displays will be possible over Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England tonight and over the early stages of Wednesday morning if conditions hold up over the next few hours.
The latest Satellite image shows clear weather pushing in from the west and northwest
Current Met Eireann webcam looking north at Malin Head show some clear gaps on the horizon
The best Aurora app in Ireland, the UK, Iceland and Europe can be found at Glendale sky Auroras where people summit there own reports and I would highly recommend using this app which was developed by a friend in Scotland Andy Stables check out the app at this link https://aurora-alerts.uk/
The northern lights over Donegal Ireland
MOON PHASE
On Tuesday night the moon phase will on have a Illumination: 4% which will not effect any display and sets after sunset.
Waxing Crescent is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon's surface. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the wester sky after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. The moon is close to the sun in the sky and mostly dark except for the right edge of the moon which becomes brighter as the days get closer to the next phase which is a First Quarter with a 50% illumination.
September 11
Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 4%
Remember to stay warm if out aurora hunting.
Beware of your surroundings.
Wrap up well
Stay away from light polluted areas.
Get somewhere with a good view northwards.
Its Ireland so always make sure you stay dry
Hot drinks are always good if your gonna spend long periods out
Flash lights
Let your eye adapt to the night sky
Always carry a phone and let someone know where you will be
If photographing iso setting of around 800 to 1600 are good with at F3.5 (18mm 55mm lens)
Don,t go out and expect them to be just there as they don't work like that, Its a waiting game sometimes depending on the display and weather.
The Aurora may look like a white glow on the horizon depending on the strength of the solar storm. If it is a strong solar storm then colours are also visible espically if it goes into out bursts with rays.
The magnetic field also play a big factor on how far south the aurora comes and has the nickname of BZ. If you here the BZ is dropping then that is good.
KP really means nothing you can have a high KP number and see noting.
Main factors to a aurora display is Bz, Proton density, IMF and solar wind speed.
Kenneth from the Donegal Weather Channel