[Image description: the Aurora borealis painted the night sky with streaks of red, purple, and green all the way down to the 43rd parallel this evening]

  • Zink@programming.dev
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    2 months ago

    I love that these auroras are happening, and it’s even happened more than once recently where I live.

    The northern lights always seemed so magical and scientific at the same time. Seeing them would be the best part of a trip north, but not a guarantee to ever see it yourself. Even though it’s not very bright, seeing it over my own house is amazing in a way that seems even cooler than seeing them on vacation.

    It’s like the time or two I’ve been out in the country on the right kind of night and saw the andromeda galaxy with the naked eye. There are much better ways to get a good look at it, but just looking and seeing some truly cosmic stuff in front of your unassisted eyes hits different.

    • LallyLuckFarm@beehaw.orgOP
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      2 months ago

      but just looking and seeing some truly cosmic stuff in front of your unassisted eyes hits different.

      It’s so true. I’ve gotten to see them before, way up Maine, but not as brightly as this evening and it was breathtaking. Our whole dead end street was all out at the same time, we could hear each other marveling at it all

      • 667@lemmy.radio
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        2 months ago

        We’re at maximum of solar cycle 25; these Aurora are the direct result of Earth-directed CMEs which have happened in the past few days. This most recent one being an X-class flare.

        Fabulous time for sky-gazers and amateur radio operators!