Bonus Astro-Porn: Strong auroras are likely this weekend.

[mckitterick]

Because of a gigantic sunspot complex that recently appeared on the Sun - about 11 Earth diameters wide - auroras are likely tonight (Friday) through the weekend. Active Region 11520 (the new sunspot garden) is large enough to see without telescope assist. Be sure to use a filter, though - say, a #14 welder’s glass or mylar sunshield or so forth. It's visible now! Run out and see, I'll wait! If you don't have such equipment, just check out the images to the right in this post; the top one is natural-light, as one might see through my telescope using a reflective filter.

The auroras will be visible at high latitudes, possibly even at middle latitudes. Never seen one? It's like this near the poles:


Click the images to see the appropriate Sky & Telescope article.

Okay, now I'm back to the CSSF Summer program. Had to share!

Chris