In 1981 or 82, I stood in them. The top of a mountain where I went to highschool. It was quite an experience. We were actually in a purple world!!!

Sunspots are related to Aurora Borealis, in that both are manifestations of the 11 year solar cycle, which measures the energy output of the sun.

Sunspots, which are actually "cooler" areas on the sun's surface, compared with surrounding areas, are associated with microwave energy emitted by the sun, through a mechanism that is not well understood. This microwave energy affects the degree of ionization of the Earth's upper atmosphere (the ionosphere), which in turn affects medium- and high- frequency long-distance radio transmission. It does not affect satellite communications, except in extreme cases.

Also associated with the 11-year solar energy cycle are periodic emissions of plasma energy from the sun. The Aurora Borealis is a visual manifestation of the interaction between this plasma and the Earth's magnetic field.

(For purists only: There are some indications that the so-called 11-year solar cycle is really a 22-year cycle with 2 peaks.)

Here is a link to some Aurora Borealis photos:

http://search.excite.com/search.gw?c...orthern+lights

This weekend might prove to be a good opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis:



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-asec-sunspot-033001.story?col l=orl%2Dhome%2Dheadlines

p.s. The last time I saw the Aurora was 11 years ago at the Grand Canyon!

[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 03-30-2001).]

Here's a good, and accurate, article about current solar phenomena:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/2001...r_flare_2.html

thank you for all the informations. Great photos Old Gold. Now I know what you are all talking about (something I learned long ago in school but forgot most of it).

As Old Gold noted, this weekend there will be a very good likelihood of seeing Aurora, or Northern Lights, as we called them in Alberta. Sun spot activity should make for a very good show. You don't have to go that far north either. Edmonton and Regina are both major Canadian cities which have a very good vista for these displays. [And Winnipeg, it appears, too.] When I lived in Edmonton, I had regular shows out my north facing living room and bedroom windows on many evenings, winter and summer.

Ten years ago, I organized an international conference in Edmonton, and we had 500 people in from around the world visit. On the closing Saturday evening, the city was privileged with one of the most spectacular displays of lights ever: undulating curtains of blue and green and red and pink and yellow. I was so pleased my guests could witness this extraordinary event, and it certainly was the culmination of a fine week of meetings and social activities [not in part due to all the rum and cigars the Cuban delegates brought with them, and the Brazillians and their musical/dance contributions well into the morning...].

On another occasion in Regina, my friend and I were walking home from the restaurant and right overhead, and appearing not that high up, the sky was a shimmer with lights for a good half-hour. We just headed for Victoria Park, right in the centre of the city, and lay in the grass like kids, staring up at the sky in awe.

The lights have to be seen to be appreciated. I do miss them now that I am further south here in Toronto. But I have hung a beautiful painting of the lights in my bedroom to remind me of the views I used to have out the window on the prairie.

According to an article on the Arizona Republic website the Aurora was visible as far south as Phoenix last night.

http://www.arizonarepublic.com/arizo...ghtshow31.html

I must warn you that it is dated April 1, 2001

[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 03-31-2001).]

Old Gold, the photographs of the Northern Lights are excellent. I lived on Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota from '71-'76 and they appeared several times a year. I 'saw' all of the photographs except the 'all pink sky'.

The most amazing lights appeared one night returning from the Officers' Club arond 2am. The entire sky was 'boiling' with color. This was quite different from the usual 'fingers of light' appearance. I, also, laid in the grass trying to take in the beauty and enormity of what I was seeing. It was one of those jaw-dropping moments when there are no words.

[This message has been edited by Lmbrghini (edited 03-31-2001).]

Have seen them almost every night while Fall camping in the Boundry Waters area (border Canada and MN). Both black and white versions and color. A different show every night!

Also saw them for two nights while camping on the North shore of Lake Superior.

I think being away from city lights and cool air helps.

seawolf, I ran across this site today while searching for sites on the 'Southern Lights' and thought of your thread. At the bottom of the page is a link to a 3-day forcast of when the aurora be visible next.

I've seen them twice now. First time was in Scotland up near Inverness. Initially I thought they were just lights from a distant city, but realizing there was no distant city and the slowly changing dimension to them figured it was the northern lights. Second time was just last Wednesday on a flight from Pittsburgh to Frankfurt on USAir. The pilot came on the ICS to say those on the left side have an incredible view of the northern lights. He wasn't kidding, totally amazing.