Strong space-wx : really ??

[Klauss]

Hi, there are infos on the net that strong space weather is happening now.
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
I wonder if it affects flying.
??

[pattern_is_full]

Possibly radio interference, as well as satellite interference (e.g. GPS, ACARS). More so (if at all) in high latitudes near the N/S poles.

[Consol]

A nice glimpse of the aurora last night at 50°N.

[compressor stall]

I wonder if it affects flying.
??
You are clearly not a user of HF radio in your flying....

[Asturias56]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64782372In a very rare display, the northern lights were seen as far south as Kent and Cornwall on Sunday night.

Across more northern areas of the UK, the display was one of the best seen in a very long time by BBC Weather Watchers.

An aurora is formed by a solar flare erupting on the Sun, sending charged particles towards Earth which interact with our atmosphere.

More displays are expected in the coming nights.

The most vibrant display was across Scotland and northern England where the aurora was made up of bright greens and deep reds.

There were also sightings in Northern Ireland, south Wales and Norfolk.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/18480/production/_128765499_northernireland.jpgImage source, Simon Brown Image caption,
The green lights projected onto ssouth ide of Lough Neagh in County Armagh https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F880/production/_128761636_ar6.pngImage source, BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / BRASS IN THE BRAES Image caption,
Aurora seen in Highlands, Scotland on Sunday night https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E714/production/_128765195_breconbeacons.jpgImage source, Karl McCarthy Image caption,
The views seen over the Brecon Beacons in south WalesIn the UK, we can often seen the northern lights in Scotland but they are rarely spotted in southern England.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/14AEC/production/_128761748_ar1.pngImage source, BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / JAMIE Image caption,
Northern lights which are rarely seen in Kent, southern EnglandOver the last few days, a strong solar flare on the Sun's surface was directed toward Earth with charged particles reaching our atmosphere on Sunday night.

The charged particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen which then emits green and red colours over our poles.


Rare 'mother-of-pearl' cloud spotted in Scotland (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64450253)
Shooting star caught on one-in-million family snap (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-60644301)

If it's a strong solar flare, the charged particles can travel further away from the poles into middle latitudes such as southern England.

There may be another opportunity to see the northern lights on Monday night where skies are clear.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/18354/production/_128765199_norfolk.jpgImage source, BBC WEATHER WATCHER / SHIRLEY YOU CANT BE CIRRUS Image caption,
One BBC weather watcher captured the strong pink and purple hues covering the Norfolk sky on Sunday nightPhotographer Gary Pearson, who watched the display from Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk on Sunday, said: "We had a fantastic showing from the northern lights last night.

"The aurora was clearly visible to the naked eye, though it was the long exposure taken by the camera that picked up the extremely vivid colours."

In the heart of Teesside, County Durham, revellers witnessed a blast of green and red light at Grassholme Observatory.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2810/production/_128765201_teeside.pngImage source, Grassholme Observatory Image caption,
The bright lights were captured at Grassholme Observatory, County Durham https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1654/production/_128761750_ar5.pngImage source, BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / CAMBUS BOOLER Image caption,
Aurora in Stirling, ScotlandThe Sun goes through an 11-year solar cycle measured in terms of how active its magnetic field is. As this magnetic field changes, so does the amount of activity on the Sun's surface.

The last solar minimum was in 2020, so activity on the Sun has been increasing since then and it is currently the most active since 2014.

Solar maximum is expected in 2025, more frequent displays of the aurora are likely in the coming years.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/BA64/production/_128761774_ar3.png

[ShyTorque]

I saw the extreme red form of the Aurora Borealis in NI in 1991, whilst flying a Puma helicopter.

Having been using Night Vision Goggles for the previous hour or so I took them off as we climbed out of low level and couldn't believe what I was seeing.

It's quite normal to experience "pink vision" as one's brain compensates for the green picture it's been dealing with, but the redness of the sky that night was totally unexpected and extreme. A spectacular traffic light red, quite amazing to witness; I've not seen the like since.

[Klauss]

Hi,
thank you very much for those Aurora pictures . Great ..

HF user ? Hm....on occasion, not right now. Sometimes the auroras affected HF, sometimes not.
How is it this time ??

[alternateprocedure]

Was fine last night, crossing 55/56N

Good aurora views too

[reynoldsno1]

The Aurora Australis is also active at the moment...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/southland/300817868/how-new-zealand-photographers-captured-the-aurora

[Klauss]

HI,
looks like WAAS coverage was or is reduced over the last couple of days or so. https://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/RT_VerticalProtectionLevel.htm
Does it matter, actually ?? Are those graphs for real ?

[Asturias56]

UK dwellers can look at

https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

[421dog]

I would advise any of you who are truly enthralled to avail yourselves of a latitude without much population for a really special experience. While much denied, there is absolutely no doubt that the aurourae make noise as well as beautiful visual displays. They whistle and pop to the point that a guy will sit outside on a 40 below night a lot longer than he should, because Disney hasn’t done anything near as good, even with CGI…