There was an Aurora Alert for Iowa. Maybe it came here instead. Message: 1 Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 23:30:12 -0600 From: "Tom Wagner" <sciteach1950@home.com> Subject: Fw: Iowa Aurora Alert *WATCH* This an aurora alert that I just got from a friend here in Iowa. Those of you at a latitude of +/- 40 degrees or more from the equator might like to know what it says. Iowa Tom USA ----- Original Message ----- From: Iowa Aurora Alert Network To: Iowa Aurora Alert Network Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 8:34 PM Subject: Iowa Aurora Alert *WATCH* posted 2002/02/05 8:30pm CST

From the STD today:

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WATCH ISSUED: 23:30 UTC, 05 FEBRUARY 2001 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ VALID BEGINNING AT: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY VALID UNTIL: 19:00 UTC (2 pm EDT) ON 07 FEBRUARY HIGH RISK PERIOD: 06 FEBRUARY (UTC DAYS) MODERATE RISK PERIOD: 06 - 07 FEBRUARY POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY: MODERATE POTENTIAL DURATION OF THIS ACTIVITY: MAIN BELT = 18 TO 36 HOURS MINOR BELT = 36 TO 60 HOURS ESTIMATED OPTIMUM OBSERVING CONDITIONS: NEAR LOCAL MIDNIGHT EXPECTED LUNAR INTERFERENCE: LOW TO MODERATE OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM MIDDLE LATITUDES: FAIR TO POOR AURORAL ACTIVITY *MAY* BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM... NORTHERN WASHINGTON STATE TO MONTANA TO NORTHERN SOUTH DAKOTA TO CENTRAL MINNESOTA TO CENTRAL WISCONSIN TO MICHIGAN TO DARK SKY SITES OF NEW YORK STATE, VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHERN MAINE. ACTIVITY *MAY* ALSO BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM... NORTHERN UNITED KINGDOM TO EXTREME NORTHERN NETHERLANDS TO EXTREME NORTHERN GERMANY TO EXTREME NORTHERN POLAND TO NORTHERN LITHUANIA TO LATVIA TO NORTHERN RUSSIA. SOUTHERN REGIONS OF NEW ZEALAND MAY ALSO SPOT PERIODS OF ACTIVITY. SYNOPSIS... Effects of a well placed coronal hole are beginning to produce periods of intensified auroral activity. The potential for more widespread auroral substorming has increased over the last few hours and may help produce periods of visible auroral activity over more widespread middle latitude regions. For this reason, a watch has been issued for the next 24 to 48 hours. The most volatile period is likely to be observed within the next 24 hours. No significant auroral storming is expected, although high latitudes may witness some impressive activity. This watch will remain in effect until 19:00 UTC (2 pm EST) on 07 February. It will then be updated or allowed to expire. For updated information, visit: http://www.spacew.com/aurora/forum.html PLEASE REPORT OBSERVATIONS OF AURORAL ACTIVITY TO: http://solar.spacew.com/www/auroras.html *End of Alert* Chances here in Iowa are not particularly good for aurora but if you live in the northern part of the state and have clear skies you might want to take a look to the north around midnite, you may possibly catch some minor activity. Please be sure to be in dark skies away from city/town lights with a clear view of the northern horizon. Please allow 15 minutes for you eyes to become dark-adapted. Good Luck! Stan Richard Iowa Aurora Alert Network Urbandale, IA snkrichard@msn.com -----Original Message----- From: Larry Frisk [mailto:lkfrisk@earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 2:55 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] What was I seeing? At about 2:45 AM this morning I observed a bright pink sky glow in the west/southwest. I first noticed it at 2:15 AM and it lasted until about 2:35 and then slowly faded out. It was quite bright and fairly constant in color. I went outside in my sweats and nearly froze before I had the good sense to go back inside and view from the window. :-( Can anyone tell me what I was seeing? _\\|//_ (-O-O-) -----o00--(_)--00o----- Larry & Kaye Frisk lkfrisk@earthlink.net <mailto:lkfrisk@earthlink.net>