blairwelsh Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 AFTER 10-11pm and have a LOOK (NORTH SKY) *If your (North) you even have a better chance! Canadians will have a good chance of seeing thenorthern lights over the next two days, even if they are not accustomed toseeing such sights at lower latitudes. That's because the sun has entered a solar maximum,a stormy period in the sun's activity cycle that recently resulted in a coronalmass ejection -- a release of a large amount of charged particles that arehurtling towards the Earth at high speeds. York University astronomer Paul Delaney said theresult is that the incoming charged particles "are going to interact withthe Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere." "We've got a 50-50 chance that as thoseparticles rain down into our atmosphere, they will trigger extensive auroraborealis -- the northern lights -- all across the northern hemisphere fromabout Toronto's latitude and further north," Delaney told CTV News Channelduring an interview in Toronto on Tuesday morning. Those odds will leave amateur astronomers lookingup for the next two nights, as they watch for what Delaney describes as"shimmering curtains of light." "Very faint, probably greenish-white, maybewith a bit of luck, some tinges of orange and red. But basically, large sheetsof lights, towards the northern horizon, but well-elevated…all across thesky," said Delaney. Northern lights are not usually seen so far south,but the specific characteristics of the coronal mass ejection should make itpossible for most Canadians to view the phenomenon, Delaney said. "When we have such a significant amount ofparticulate radiation sweeping towards the Earth, it sort of overwhelms themagnetic field of the Earth and more charged particles seep through and impactthe atmosphere at further, southernly latitudes," said Delaney. Delaney said that people on the ground have noreason to worry about the radiation associated with the incoming particles, as"there is next to no danger associated with this event." "It's just a wonderful light show and I wouldcertainly encourage anybody to go outside tonight after sunset isfinished." Until recently, the sun had been in a period ofrelative inactivity, as part of a cycle that NASA says lasts about 11 years. According to NASA, the last solar maximum occurredin 2001. Another is expected in about three years' time. With files from The Associated Press Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CT.../#ixzz1kQKR6aVr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
river guide Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 this solar storm is supposed to mess with our cellular and satellite reception too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blairwelsh Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 this solar storm is supposed to mess with our cellular and satellite reception too. LOL Update: "Their" already starting to say ... the chances are getting slimmer. I'm starting to get sick of these "Astronomers" and their predictions. Seems every year when they say: "Oh the showers will be great, Oh the Moon will be red... BLAH BLAH BLAH" Think I will take a look tonight ... and other than that: GONNA STOP paying attention to their FALSE HYPE and what they say! Hopefully the END of THE WORLD prediction for DEC 21, 2012 holds true. Spent alot on a BOMB SHELTER! *SMILES* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horrorshowrot Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Ooh a bomb shelter... Its sad we think the world will end when it was the Mayans who said it would... I think they were just to lazy to continue with there calendar Gonna check for some lights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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