The Sky Was On Fire!

I'm currently at the 45th Parallel in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. As I was driving home from work tonight at 9:30 EST, the sky filled with Northern Lights so bright and so spectacular I could have been in Norway.

To the west, red streaks, thinly separated by hues of orange, came down from the top of the sky to the horizon. To the north and north-east, blues and greens painted the skies in a display the likes of which I have never seen. I have seen them before - 20 years ago, right here in Michigan - but it was nothing like this. Words fail to describe how beautiful it was.

I raced home to get my camera out. I had no doubt I'd be able to capture it and share it with you all; the sky was so bright it was almost twilight. But alas, as I neared town the display began to dim, and by the time I got home it was gone altogether. I'll keep poking my head out tonight to see if they return, and if they do I'll be sure to video it.

We must have been hit with a massive burst from the Sun. Does anyone have any idea what caused the most beautiful natural phenomenon I have ever seen?

reply to post by OldCorp


If only you had taken a picture.
If it's as amazing as you say, I doubt words do it justice, aye?

Regardless, perhaps google images can help you find something similar for you to share with us? Until then, I am not exactly sure WHAT it was.

reply to post by OldCorp


A CME hit at about 2pm Eastern Daylight Time. It's all over the internet now.

Damn light pollution
I cant see anything, doubt i'de get them here anyways, but it would be so nice to see.

Tonight around the same time frame, I saw something that looked really similar to northern lights as well. I'm located in Central Southern Wisconsin. It was fleeting, didn't last very long, cool though.

Originally posted by Nurv47
reply to post by OldCorp

 

If only you had taken a picture.
If it's as amazing as you say, I doubt words do it justice, aye?

Regardless, perhaps google images can help you find something similar for you to share with us? Until then, I am not exactly sure WHAT it was.

It looked like this to the west, straight streaks.


And this to the north, and north-east.



It was awesome. I feel really small right now.

Yeah, apparently a CME hit. Lots of people have seen the same lights... I wish I could have seen them.

I will go pout

I believe the Aurora is a phenomenon caused by the Earth's magnetic field. That's why it is more visible closer to the Earth's poles. I'd love to see it sight myself, but that's a rare sight where I live. If I ever see it this close to the equator I'll know that the SHTF.

Northern Lights Visible as Far South as Kentucky

reply to post by OldCorp

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Hello Old Buddy.
Looks like we were hit with a nice geomagnetic storm registering a 6.33 on the Kip index. Being at the 45th parallel you’re probably around the Gaylord area. I’m hovering at the 41st. We had a nice display but I am sure not as spectacular as yours. Looks like it was a simple M class flare but haven’t determined that conclusively. I was enjoying the show earlier with a wonderful bourbon.

reply to post by OldCorp


yep it's been reported on, and it's all over the Net. It's pretty cool like always.

reply to post by OldCorp


post removed, realized the photo's where examples.

To the east and west where 2 blood red spots, just huge, and in the middle of all that, from horizon to zenith and even a little further, was white dancing streaks.

reply to post by quantumdragon


A previous poster asked me to Google for images similar to what we saw. I didn't take those, I just chose representative photographs.

reply to post by OldCorp


I realized and was editing my post above, sorry.

Originally posted by BioSafe
reply to post by OldCorp

 

**********
Hello Old Buddy.
Looks like we were hit with a nice geomagnetic storm registering a 6.33 on the Kip index. Being at the 45th parallel you’re probably around the Gaylord area. I’m hovering at the 41st. We had a nice display but I am sure not as spectacular as yours. Looks like it was a simple M class flare but haven’t determined that conclusively. I was enjoying the show earlier with a wonderful bourbon.

Directly east of Gaylord, on Lake Huron.

Originally posted by OldCorp

Directly east of Gaylord, on Lake Huron.

That red spot I saw to the west was maybe almost directly above you then?

Maybe not, hell of a show regardless.

Even my 78 year old grandma said she has never seen northern lights this intense in Michigan in her life.

Originally posted by randyvs
reply to post by OldCorp

 

Pics or........ Nah I believe it big time coming from you.

Quoting a post you haven't read yet.

If it came from me? maybe not, but I wouldn't have cared. It was amazing

reply to post by OldCorp


its my dream to see these lights befor i die you lucky people

I think he was posting pics he found online to represent what it looked like to him, not actual pics from tonight which he took himself.
2nd line

reply to post by OldCorp


Pics or........ Nah I believe it big time coming from you. But a vid would be awesome. I have never seen them.
So I hope you come up stud. Thanks for trying.

Originally posted by OldCorp

Originally posted by BioSafe
reply to post by OldCorp

 

**********
Hello Old Buddy.
Looks like we were hit with a nice geomagnetic storm registering a 6.33 on the Kip index. Being at the 45th parallel you’re probably around the Gaylord area. I’m hovering at the 41st. We had a nice display but I am sure not as spectacular as yours. Looks like it was a simple M class flare but haven’t determined that conclusively. I was enjoying the show earlier with a wonderful bourbon.

Directly east of Gaylord, on Lake Huron.

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How about that. (must be near Alpena) Ill be in your neck of the woods this coming June for a week of R&R and hopefully some good fishing on Drummond Island.
Keep looking up. Too many folk only look at their toes

I wish I could've seen it. I got a place near Mio. I'm headed there this weekend. Too bad I wasn't up there all this week.