[Launch Alert] Possible Aurora Tonight

[Launch Alert]

The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has announced that aurora may be visible tonight (May 10-11) as far south as Florida, southern Texas, and southern California.

To search for aurora, find the darkest possible location with an unobstructed northern horizon. Look low in the north between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Observers in the Southwest may see a shapeless, crimson patch.

Your odds of seeing aurora tonight are greater the farther north you are.

For information on viewing aurora, go to:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora

Here is the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center alert that mentioned possible auroral activity. It was issued at 4:34 p.m. PDT today:

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK09
Serial Number: 6
Issue Time: 2024 May 10 2334 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 9o
Threshold Reached: 2024 May 10 2254 UTC
Synoptic Period: 2100-2400 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G5 - Extreme

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 40 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems may occur; some power grid systems may experience component failures or protective device trips resulting in blackouts or disruption of service. Pipeline currents can reach hundreds of amps.
Spacecraft - Systems may experience anomalies to include: extensive surface charging, unexpected orientation and attitude changes, uplink/downlink errors, and satellite orbit degradation.
Navigation - Satellite navigation (GPS) may be degraded or unavailable for days.
Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation may be impossible in many areas for one to two days.
Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as Florida to southern Texas and southern California.