Quote-
"[gse-aa] Auroral Alert
From: gse-aa-bounces@dogbert.gi.alaska.edu on behalf of Charles Deehr (cdeehr@gi.alaska.edu)
Sent:
Wed 3/26/08 11:39 AM
To:
gse-aa@gi.alaska.edu



Active periods in the next period are: March 26-April 2, April 5-15, April 22-29, and May 2-12.
During these periods, activity numbers will range between 3 and 5.

Dr. Charles Deehr, Prof. Emer. Phys. Ph. 907 474 7473 Fax 907 474 7290
email cdeehr@gi.alaska.edu
The Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks
903 Koyukuk Ave N
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7320"
-Unquote
____________________

Apparently they had more to say on the subject this month:
Quote-
[gse-aa] Auroral Alert Clarification of Forecast Levels
From: gse-aa-bounces@dogbert.gi.alaska.edu on behalf of Charles Deehr (cdeehr@gi.alaska.edu)
Sent:
Thu 3/27/08 1:25 PM
To:
gse-aa@gi.alaska.edu


Attachments:
Security scan upon download Trend Micro ® logo
NorthPola...jpg (67.2 KB), ATT00001 (0.1 KB)

There are over 13,500 email addresses on the auroral alert list. We cannot send out separate forecasts for each region. Nor is it possible to update the main forecast continually.

To determine if the aurora will be visible from your area, you need to check the auroral forecast web page

1) On the left hand side of the website is a choice of 5 different maps to display the prediction of the nighttime aurora. Click on the map that best shows your location.

2) Click on the words "Interpreting the Forecast" in the right hand side of the website. You will see your map displayed for each of the 10 forecast levels (0 to 9). Find the levels where your location is inside the green line. For example, on the North America map, Chicago requires a 3 to see the aurora on the northern horizon and at least a 5 to see it overhead. An index 5 map for North America is attached to this message as an example.

3) Check the main forecast for the day of interest. If your location is within the green line on the equatorward side of the green and white band around the pole, you should plan on aurora watching that night.

3) To see if the aurora will be visible from your location within the next hour, look at the "short term forecast" on the right hand side of the display. This is a continually updated forecast, based on an actual satellite measurement, so if it shows an index 5 and you are in Seattle, Chicago, New York City, Halifax or anywhere under the green and white band, then there is aurora overhead. If the sun is down, you should go outside, away from city lights with a view of the poleward horizon, and look for it.

Dr. Charles Deehr, Prof. Emer. Phys. Ph. 907 474 7473 Fax 907 474 7290
email cdeehr@gi.alaska.edu
The Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks
903 Koyukuk Ave N
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7320

-Unquote
________________________

I tried last night, but unfortunately my tripod was broken on the way to shoot a friends wedding, so it didn't go so well.
'S OK though, as it means I get to buy a new one! Luckily I have been absent here due to a busy workload, which means I can also afford one in a few days!

One of the many projects I've been working on...



BTW, `thespook Shared a link to $realitysquared's journal which I would also highly recommend reading. Well said!