Powerful aurora borealis display above Scotland
A powerful display of the aurora borealis was visible across many parts of Scotland a few days ago – from Orkney in the north to Dumfries and Galloway in the south.
The aurora is a natural phenomena caused by geomagnetic storms from the Sun. It can appear in the sky as rays of light which shimmer and “dance”.
Astronomer Steve Owens said the Sun was emerging from a quiet phase in the star’s 11-year cycle of solar activity.
Image: ‘Dabby’
He said the Sun heading out of minimum to maximum activity over the next few years increased the chances of people being able to see the space weather.
He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland that places away from light pollution in northern Scotland offered the best locations in the UK for seeing the aurora – if skies were clear and the Sun was active.
Image: Olly79
Mr Owens said it was usually only possible for space weather forecasters to give a day or two’s notice of displays of the lights.
He said: “Last night happened to be a very good, very strong display.
Image: Michelle C
“It just so happens at the moment we are heading into a more active phase and last night the Sun was giving off solar flares.”
Contributors to BBC Weather Watchers were among those to enjoy views of the aurora overnight.
See more here: bbc.co.uk
Header image: ‘David’
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Jerry Krause
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Hi PSI Readers,
“Earth’s orbit around the Sun will soon align with a coronal hole – a hole in the Sun’s upper atmosphere – and solar particles will subsequently bombard the planet after they have made their way through space. Experts predict that the solar storm will hit Earth on July 31 or August 1. People in the northern hemisphere are likely to be treated to northern lights – or aurora borealis – as the solar winds bombard the upper reaches of the planet.” (https://principia-scientific.com/huge-solar-storm-will-hit-earth-on-july-31-or-august-1/)
“One of the most difficult problems in solar physics is knowing the shape of a magnetic field in a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is basically a huge blob of charged particles ejected from the sun. Such CMEs have their own magnetic fields. The problem is, it is nigh impossible to tell in what direction the CME field is pointing until it hits. A hit creates either a spectacular magnetic storm and dazzling aurora with it, or a fizzle. Currently there’s no way to know ahead of time.” (https://principia-scientific.com/northern-lights-8-dazzling-facts-about-auroras/)
These two article suggest to me that the issue might not have much to do with the activity of the nuclear fusion occurring in the interior of the sun, is what I consider the sun’s activity to be about; instead it seems it could be about the influence of ‘clouds in the sun’s upper atmosphere. Just as the earth’s atmospheric cloud control the amount of the earth’s surfaces upward IR emission being transmitted through the atmosphere to space. Something to ponder!!!
I have seldom followed the links to previous articles which have been published at PSI. Which makes a ‘“literature” search very easy and possibly informative. I plan to do this more.
Have a good day, Jerry
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Mark Tapley
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Hello Jerry:
Something else to ponder. What about those conflicting planetary rotations your Venus exhibit reminded me of? Some going not only markedly different velocities but opposite directions and some even rotating over the poles. If as astronomers claim, we had the Big Bang why would they not all be the same?
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Jerry Krause
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Hi Mark,
Why don’t you ask Howdy??? It seems you two know most everything and agree on most everything. You don’t seem to agree with what Herb has written to you and I certainly do agree with what he has written to you and Howdy Etc even if in the past Herb and I haven’t agreed with our science. So I will explain to him about what I have read about Venus.
And your question implies you evidently consider that if the Big Bang theory has validity. that you consider the all planets should rotation similarly. so explain your ideas about this to other PSI readers.
Have a good day, Jerry
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Mark Tapley
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Hello Jerry:
I addressed the question to you specifically because of your dissertation about the planet Venus and its rotation. I did not consult Howdy because I do not think it is an area of expertise for him. On the other hand if I had a question relating to electronics which he apparently is knowledgeable, I would have messaged him specifically. I was under the impression that you were a science enthusiast in a general sense and welcomed inquiries of that nature. My particular opinions on the issue of planetary rotation are really of no consequence as to its scientific validity nor of your agreement with Herb on the asinine belief that airliners can cut through multiple layers of concrete and steel without even bending a wing. I have merely posed an open science question of general interest to any and all PSI readers. However I must admit I am not too keen on the flat earth fellows.
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Herb Rose
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Hi Mark,
Venus orbits the sun in the same direction as every planet. The planets rotations very slow so a Venusian day is almost as long as a Venusian year. This is similar to having one rotation every time it orbits the Earth so the same sideways faces the Earth. Neptune has its rotational axis aligned with the sun so it has no north/south poles.
The Big Bang (utter nonsense) is a theory of how matter was created. It has nothing to do with the formation of sun’s or solar systems.
There are no natives or mammals at the South Pole. The only regular inhabitants are birds when the penguins come ashore to breed.
You have strong opinions but no evidence to support your beliefs. You claim everyone else is wrong because it is not what you believe. There are multiple videos from different locations showing the planes hitting the towers and tens of thousands eyewitnesses. You expect people to accept the crap you spout because you say so but offer no evidence only incidental anecdotal events.
You claim there were 210 steel girders supporting the towers. What was the dimension of the towers and how close together does that make those girders? Those were not concrete walls but panels stacked and attached to the center core. All skyscrapers flex in the wind I believe the Sears tower in Chicago flexes about a foot.) Concrete does not compress or expand.
Did you ever see the picture of a stalk of straw driven through a telephone pole by a tornado?
Herb
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Howdy
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Hey Jerry!
“Why don’t you ask Howdy??? It seems you two know most everything and agree on most everything.”
How old are you again? Stop acting like an infant and making things up.
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