Astroalert zu dem X6

[Mark (Rottal/Niederbayern)]

Hört sich aber nicht besonders vielversprechend an:

A s t r o A l e r t

Sun-Earth Alert

Solar Terrestrial Dispatch

http://www.spacew.com

14 December 2001

MAJOR CLASS X6.2 SOLAR FLARE ALERT

MAJOR CLASS X6.2 SOLAR FLARE ALERT

A major X-class solar flare was observed on 13 December from active
sunspot region 9733. The solar flare briefly caused the Sun to become over
500 times brighter than normal in the light of x-rays. It reached a class
X6.2 x-ray intensity at 14:30 UTC.

Although the peak x-ray flux of this solar flare was very respectable,
the overall energy output of the event was a bit more average and less
impressive for such a strong x-ray flare. A partial halo (partially
Earth-directed) coronal mass ejection was observed by the Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft. The plane-of-sky velocity of this
ejected mass was clocked at approximately 535 kilometers per second (almost 2
million kilometers per hour or about 1.2 million miles per hour).

It is possible some of the ejected mass from this disturbance could
impact the Earth late on 15 December or early on 16 December (UTC time - or
anytime after approximately 1 pm on 15 December EST). The impact of this
particular coronal mass ejection is not expected to produce any significant
global outbreaks of auroral activity ("northern lights"). However, there is a
fair chance some diligent dark-sky middle latitude observers might spot
periods of activity after the disturbance reaches the Earth. Observed
activity will probably be somewhat infrequent and isolated or localized.

Observers interested in watching for auroral activity should keep in
mind that most of the activity will probably be more of a quiescent nature
(diffuse glows, less active arcs, perhaps infrequent rays, etc) and may have
less color distribution (less reds and more greens or whites) than occurs
during larger disturbances. The anticipated lack of deeper reds (which occur
higher in altitude and are therefore visible to greater distances) will
probably also limit the observational extent of activity to the more
northerly middle latitude regions - if activity manifests itself at all.

Camera's are excellent tools for capturing things that are too dim to be
seen with the naked eye. For those who do not observe any significant
activity, try exposing some film (ASA 400 to 800) during the local late
evening or early morning hours (near local midnight). The near-new phase of
the moon presents an excellent opportunity for longer-duration exposures that
may capture faint auroral colors on the horizon. Try to orient yourself in
such a way that the northern horizon is as free of light pollution from local
cities or towns as possible. Try different exposures (anywhere from 5 or 10
seconds up to a minute or more if you are in a very dark location). You may
be surprised what shows up on the film!

Additional major solar flares are possible from this active sunspot
complex over the next week. In addition, there is a new active sunspot
complex that has produced a strong minor solar flare from just behind the
northeast limb of the Sun. This new active sunspot complex has not yet
rotated into view, but is expected to do so over the next few days. The
arrival of this new sunspot region may further enhance the potential for
additional major energetic solar flares over the next week or two.

For current estimates of predicted coronal mass ejection impacts, feel
free to visit: http://www.spacew.com/cme . Discussions of on-going and
predicted activity are also available at:

http://www.spacew.com/aurora/forum.html

** End of the AstroAlert Bulletin **

[Ulrich Rieth]

...wobei die Fototipps doch etwas gewagt sind.
So einfach mal draufhalten, ohne die Datenlage zu checken.
Da gehen am Wochenende sicher jede Menge Filme für nix drauf.
Gruß

Ulrich