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Science/nature/environment

Northern lights

(59 Posts)
tanith Fri 11-Oct-24 06:45:55

Something I never expected to see in London but there it was from a bedroom window. It was very faint with the naked eye but much brighter with my phone camera.

AreWeThereYet Sun 20-Oct-24 15:03:41

But of course the doom mongers will say the sun is going to explode, if I does it doesn’t matter we are all toast.

I don't think many people are really worried about the sun exploding but quite a few people are worried about the effects on our power systems when there are massive CMEs (as opposed to flares). If the power system goes down we lose SATNAV, banking systems, internet communications, food production systems, medical systems, pretty much everything. There's a reason NASA has satellites monitoring sun activity 24/7.

David49 Sun 20-Oct-24 10:22:57

The latest cameras enhance the images greatly, where I was the aurora was invisible to the naked eye. Pointing the camera north was a brilliant display, nothing to the south

The cause is more than usual solar flare activity fluorescing Oxygen or Nitrogen in the outer atmosphere, no risk. But of course the doom mongers will say the sun is going to explode, if I does it doesn’t matter we are all toast.

Allira Sun 20-Oct-24 09:54:54

Grantanow

I don't think there's any evidence that the Northern Lights are dangerous.

Unless you're so busy staring at the Northern Lights you don't notice a shooting star heading straight towards you.

Grantanow Sun 20-Oct-24 09:15:13

I don't think there's any evidence that the Northern Lights are dangerous.

Sarahr Sat 12-Oct-24 21:26:05

We have missed them each time because we didn't know they were there. Neighbours both sides saw them. What is so sad, is that nowadays nobody knocks on the neighbours door to let them know. 😕

AreWeThereYet Sat 12-Oct-24 20:21:03

MiniMoon

My phone doesn't take good night shots. All I managed to capture was a red blob, when actually the sky was ablaze with red looking to the north east, and in the north dancing white curtains of aurora.
Looking out of my bathroom window at 3 am there was a beautiful bright white STEVE.
Oh for a better camera.

That's impressive, seeing a STEVE. Apparently they are a lot more common than they used to be, but still not that common.

Annma Sat 12-Oct-24 19:17:59

Fantastic views away from streetlights here in Cheshire.

Gundy Sat 12-Oct-24 17:00:51

Absolutely spectacular across the U.S. and locally where I live (northern Midwest). I personally did not see them but my friends who did shared pictures.
Nature is truly magical sometimes.

Etoile2701 Sat 12-Oct-24 15:07:09

Why do you say that? I have never heard it before. Most people love the Northern Lights.

Kateykrunch Sat 12-Oct-24 12:43:12

Mollygo

Kateykrunch

Heres the view from my house lol x

Like that Kateykrunch.
My sister sent me her FB version

Ooooo…..heyup Mollygo….not quite as picturesque as mine lol x

knspol Sat 12-Oct-24 12:18:35

Still not seen them even after a trip to Iceland and 2 evenings spent searching for them in really freezing conditions. Oh well maybe one day!

Redcar Sat 12-Oct-24 12:14:46

I missed them too, was a bit cross because a friend 3 doors away saw them & took some lovely photos but didn’t ring me! It was about 10.15 and I was still up. On the other hand I’m a bit wobbly at times, so best not be wandering around the garden in the dark looking up at the sky!

Mollygo Sat 12-Oct-24 11:51:51

Kateykrunch

Heres the view from my house lol x

Like that Kateykrunch.
My sister sent me her FB version

Musicgirl Sat 12-Oct-24 11:48:08

My middle son was driving home on Thursday night and suddenly saw them while he was on the motorway.

Mojack26 Sat 12-Oct-24 11:44:49

😃

Mojack26 Sat 12-Oct-24 11:41:45

🤣🤣

Grandmagrotbags Sat 12-Oct-24 11:16:06

Taken from our back garden Poulton-le-Fylde near Blackpool.

cc Sat 12-Oct-24 11:15:53

I have seen some colour above London over the past year, but tend to assume that it's lasers from an event!

MiniMoon Sat 12-Oct-24 10:13:08

My phone doesn't take good night shots. All I managed to capture was a red blob, when actually the sky was ablaze with red looking to the north east, and in the north dancing white curtains of aurora.
Looking out of my bathroom window at 3 am there was a beautiful bright white STEVE.
Oh for a better camera.

NotSpaghetti Fri 11-Oct-24 23:59:17

Love that Kateykrunch - wish mine was half as exciting!
grin

Allira Fri 11-Oct-24 22:33:19

MayBee70

I stopped making a. point of looking out for them when I realised that the pictures people posted on Facebook could only be seen via a camera. So I’m quite confused as what can actually be seen via the naked eye.

I read that some people can see them, most can't with a naked eye.

It occurred to me that perhaps people who have had lens replacement because of cataracts might be able to see them?

mamaa Fri 11-Oct-24 22:27:35

Took this photo last night with my iphone in my front garden- couldn’t get over how pink the sky was around 10.15pm.

JamesandJon33 Fri 11-Oct-24 19:54:30

We went to the Arctic to see them. They were better here last night

Deedaa Fri 11-Oct-24 19:05:05

I forgot about them last night, but I did catch the first lot in May. With the naked eye I only saw a faint red glow, but my son got some beautiful photos. I was 7 when I read a book about the solar system which mentioned the Northern Lights, with the emphasis on the Northern. I spent the next 71 years longing to see them, but without travelling to Scandinavia or perhaps the North of Scotland it seemed impossible. I couldn't believe it when I saw them in my own back garden!

Kateykrunch Fri 11-Oct-24 18:51:35

Heres the view from my house lol x