AURORA UPDATE IN BRIEF-
2006
by Karenne Barnes
For the past several months, solar and geomagnetic activity have been predominantly low to very low. Sightings of the aurora australis have been very few, and sunspot activity plumetted in January. It will not be until after the event that we find out when Solar Minimum occurred, but it is expected to be soon now. Despite the quiet state of the Sun, the last few aurorae to have been observed - in October and November - were quite spectacular and bright, mostly associated with coronal hole activity. However, not even far southern observers at dark country sites were able to report anything for December, January or February so far. Activity has actually been quite erratic, with sunspot numbers increasing significantly in December (41.2) compared with November (15.5), before dropping back in January (15.4) and plunging even further in February (to a mere 5.0). Forecasts currently indicate that Solar Minimum will occur in March 2007, with a continued decline in solar and geomagnetic activity during the months leading up to then. Nonetheless, conditions could still occasionally favour auroral activity at our latitudes, and observers at Tasmania’s more southerly country locations can still be hopeful of a display during the next year.
AURORA INFORMATION
With a steady interest in observations of the aurora and in solar activity in general, it was decided to form an Aurora and Solar Section within the AST to foster interest in these subjects and to coordinate reports of auroral observations for contribution to an international observing programme.
Observations of auroral displays and other solar activity, such as sunspot counts and other geomagnetic effects, are often reported at General Meetings and in the Society's bimonthly Bulletin. However, most of these reports go no further than among members of the AST for the purpose of general interest. It is one of the aims of the Aurora and Solar Section to encourage members to record their observations and so increase the value of their sightings.
Heather Bildstein, from Blackmans Bay, 17 January
2005.
The AST receives information from the Aurora and Solar Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand who are keen to receive results from Tasmania to add to their observing programme. The AST's Coordinator hopes to be able to forward Tasmanian observations on a regular basis to the RASNZ for inclusion in a monthly newsletter. Reports will then be published in detail in an RASNZ circular, and they will ultimately find their way into the archives of the Aurora Section of the British Astronomical Association, along with observations of the aurora borealis. The BAA's data base is made available anyone interested in studying visual aurorae.
Since scientists no longer record the visual aurora, the only source of such observations is the amateur astronomical community. Records of the visual aurora have been kept for hundreds of years, and in the past they have provided valuable insights into solar activity - they may be of similar importance again in new studies in the future.
Photo copyright Shevill Mathers
Members of the AST will be updated on recent observations at General Meetings and through the Bulletin, and meetings of the Section will be held from time to time to discuss various aspects of auroral and solar activity. For those interested in participating in observing the aurora, check out our Observing and Reporting Aurorae webpage. You do not need any special equipment, it doesn't take long to jot down the date and the time you saw the display, and the best reward for your efforts will be in the spectacle of the aurora itself!
Karenne Barnes, Coordinator, Aurora and Solar Section.
Auroral Activity Extrapolated from NOAA POES
Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE)
Ionospheric Prediction Service
Poker Flat Research Range - The Aurora
Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory