Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => General Chat => Topic started by: Neanderphil on September 12, 2014

Title: Aroura
Post by: Neanderphil on September 12, 2014: Can anyone see the lights tonight?
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: RedLeader on September 12, 2014: I saw the Belfast Telegraph talking about them being visible. Seems an off time of year for it.
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Neanderphil on September 12, 2014: Well I'm in ballycastle tonight so hopefully I'll get a good view. From what I gather there are 2 massive CMEs yesterday and tonight. Tonight being the better chance of catching it
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: whoRya on September 12, 2014: Here is a forecast site that may be useful:

Aurora Borealis forecasts (http://www.softservenews.com/Aurora.htm)
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Rich.H on September 12, 2014: The biggest issue for these here I find is that we just do not get enough actual "aurora" this far from the poles. For just plain eye watching it tends to be a bit of a dim glow at best. The only real way to see them at this latitude is with some good quality camera equipment and patience for long exposures.
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Matthew on September 12, 2014: I'll be in Donegal tonight, literally the darkest place in existence. I would like a glance at them.
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Rich.H on September 12, 2014: Quote from: Matthew on September 12, 2014
I'll be in Donegal tonight, literally the darkest place in existence. I would like a glance at them.

Head on up to Malin Head if you ca it will probably be your best chance.
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Matthew on September 12, 2014: That's where I will be, less than a mile from the point
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: LandyLiam on September 12, 2014: I might try driving up the Mournes tonight and have a gander north
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: whoRya on September 14, 2014: Did anyone see anything? I was running about up around Slemish and could see a few lines in the sky, but between a wee bit of cloud cover (could see the stars through it) and the bright moon there were no discernible colours.
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: phil_b on September 14, 2014: (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/15226077425_580c67f476_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pctCmi)Dunluce Aurora (https://flic.kr/p/pctCmi) by Philip Blair's Photos (https://www.flickr.com/people/66651976@N06/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Neanderphil on September 14, 2014: I was in ballycastle for the weekend and didn't see a thing. Was totally gutted
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Rich.H on September 14, 2014: Quote from: Neanderphil on September 14, 2014
I was in ballycastle for the weekend and didn't see a thing. Was totally gutted

I wouldn't get too disheartened by that result, even in a good dark place about the best you would of seen is similar to the picture above. Even that probably required a long exposure and so to the naked eye you would be lucky to see just a faint glow. Add to all that even the tiniest amount of light pollution would almost totally wash out any hope of seeing an aurora.

The only time I have ever seen anything here was a couple of years ago when there were a lot of solar events making things very active. However then I went to the top end of Malin Head at around 1am and still saw only the faintest glow. It is just one of those phenomena that to see in this country really requires dedication and equipment, for the rest of us though just find some pictures of Greenland and admire it.
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: Neanderphil on September 15, 2014: Still would have been a sight to,behold
Title: Re: Aroura
Post by: whoRya on September 16, 2014: Quote from: phil_b on September 14, 2014
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/15226077425_580c67f476_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pctCmi)Dunluce Aurora (https://flic.kr/p/pctCmi) by Philip Blair's Photos (https://www.flickr.com/people/66651976@N06/), on Flickr

Nice one Phil, a great location for it.