How Can I Be Notified of Aurora Sightings in NY Tristate Area?
May 22, 2013 1:06 PM Subscribe
Since we're in a period of increasing solar activity, I'm hoping for some hot aurora action in the NY Tristate area. But while there are countless aurora forecast/advisory services, I can't find one for this area.
There are a zillion places to go for info on solar activity, aurora forecasts and advisories, and even SMS heads-ups. If I lived in Alaska, I'd have all the info in the world. But I'll be damned if I can find a way to be notified of aurora activity if/when it occurs down here in the NY Tristate Area.
This makes sense, since it's such an extreme rarity. But OTOH, I certainly wouldn't want to miss something so extremely rare. There was aurora visible here once in the early 1970's, and I'm still angry at my parents for not waking me up!
Ideally, I'd find a way to receive sighting reports via email or SMS. But I'd settle for a forecast web page silly enough to stay current re: this (unlikely) area.
There are a zillion places to go for info on solar activity, aurora forecasts and advisories, and even SMS heads-ups. If I lived in Alaska, I'd have all the info in the world. But I'll be damned if I can find a way to be notified of aurora activity if/when it occurs down here in the NY Tristate Area.
This makes sense, since it's such an extreme rarity. But OTOH, I certainly wouldn't want to miss something so extremely rare. There was aurora visible here once in the early 1970's, and I'm still angry at my parents for not waking me up!
Ideally, I'd find a way to receive sighting reports via email or SMS. But I'd settle for a forecast web page silly enough to stay current re: this (unlikely) area.
Response by poster: Ben, makes sense, but I'm hoping this query might be as effective (plus serve onlookers beyond myself) given the many sci-minded NYC-ish users on MeFi....
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:19 PM on May 22, 2013
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:19 PM on May 22, 2013
NOAA has a space weather alert email service, but it doesn't look to be localized at all. You could keep an eyeball on the alerts for significant activities or warnings and then cross check them with the aurora prediction oval here.
posted by jquinby at 1:36 PM on May 22, 2013
posted by jquinby at 1:36 PM on May 22, 2013
Response by poster: Jquinby, thanks, but as I said, there are a ton of general aurora forecast/sightings services, none of which serve my situation. I hope the specific thrust of my query won't be lost amid a flood of links to such services all of which are easily googled.
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:57 PM on May 22, 2013
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:57 PM on May 22, 2013
Your response suggests that you think auroral phenomenon is occurring directly above northern NY state or Vermont.
Take a minute to look at the prediction oval linked above. These alert services warn you when the visibility will be favourable for the general latitudes of the lower 48 states. A forecast peak in activity might favour one side of the country or another because of sunset/rise times or moon phase but I don't think the thing you seem to be looking for exists.
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:21 PM on May 23, 2013
Take a minute to look at the prediction oval linked above. These alert services warn you when the visibility will be favourable for the general latitudes of the lower 48 states. A forecast peak in activity might favour one side of the country or another because of sunset/rise times or moon phase but I don't think the thing you seem to be looking for exists.
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:21 PM on May 23, 2013
...sorry but I goofed on editing that comment. Most predictions I get seem purposefully vague (and frankly, they don't pan out all that often for me).
Is what you're looking for some kind of sky monitoring program for your general area that would send you an alert when it's happening? I don't think activity over a particular state is the sort of thing that can be forecast.
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:30 PM on May 23, 2013
Is what you're looking for some kind of sky monitoring program for your general area that would send you an alert when it's happening? I don't think activity over a particular state is the sort of thing that can be forecast.
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:30 PM on May 23, 2013
1. I know it's extremely rare (though it does happen once or twice per decade). And that's why I want to not miss it when it does happen!
2. If there's aurora down here, that's remarkable enough that people will be talking about it.
3. Given #2, I'm figuring there'd be a clever, creative way to be apprised on such talk (aside from proactively checking dedicated aurora news sites daily forever and ever).
4. My stress is on "clever, creative". I don't believe there is - nor ought there be - a web site or other dedicated service that will offer people in my area such rare alerts.
posted by jimmyjimjim at 10:21 AM on May 25, 2013
2. If there's aurora down here, that's remarkable enough that people will be talking about it.
3. Given #2, I'm figuring there'd be a clever, creative way to be apprised on such talk (aside from proactively checking dedicated aurora news sites daily forever and ever).
4. My stress is on "clever, creative". I don't believe there is - nor ought there be - a web site or other dedicated service that will offer people in my area such rare alerts.
posted by jimmyjimjim at 10:21 AM on May 25, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BenPens at 1:14 PM on May 22, 2013