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Home Port: Welcome to Old Weather => The Science: What You're Doing This For => Topic started by: Caro on 30 October 2010, 02:40:50

Title: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 30 October 2010, 02:40:50

We are looking for mentions in the logs of sunspots, aurorae, erratic compass behavior and unusual radio reception.
If you find any of these, please transcribe them as Events and post them in this topic. Be sure to include a link to the logbook page, the ship, the date, and latitude and longitude (or other position information).
Chris from Zooniverse project Solar Stormwatch (http://www.solarstormwatch.com/) explains below why reporting them is important. Thanks everyone.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CNh1SUTfEpA/UU_90rv228I/AAAAAAAAOnI/WhTmnVV6XFE/s800/Old_Space_Weather.jpg)

Picture courtesy of Kevin Wood

Over at Solar Stormwatch we are viewing images from the NASA STEREO spacecraft to track vast eruptions of solar material, known as coronal mass ejections (or solar storms) through space. The reason we are interested in doing so is because if one of these storms heads towards Earth it can cause severe disruptions to our modern technological systems, damaging satellites, disrupting navigational systems and radio communications and causing surges of current through ground-based power grids. Such 'space weather' events occur throughout the sun's 11-year activity cycle though they are more frequent when the sun is most active. This cycle is driven by the fact that the sun is a rotating fluid body with a magnetic field. The fluid motion twists the sun's magnetic field into complex regions which appear as dark 'sunspots' when viewed from Earth (using special equipment; it is dangerous to look directly at the sun, but then you all knew that, right?!). As a general rule, the more sunspots there are, the more solar storms there are and the higher the likelihood that one will head towards Earth. While solar storms can arrive at the Earth at any time, they vary in their speed and energy and so forecasting the effects can be tricky. The most severe solar storms, such as the one in 1859 (which caused havoc with the high-tech communications network of its day -- the US telegraph system) are thought to impact Earth once per century.

While spacecraft like STEREO can now view the solar wind directly, we have only been able to do this since the start of the space-age and so our knowledge of these extreme events is somewhat patchy. There have been very few large events in recent years (such as the event in 1989 which damaged the Canadian power grid) and none as large as the event in 1859. In order to improve our statistical understanding of space weather events we need to do one of three things: 1. look into the heavens for sun-like stars to monitor their activity cycles and associated space weather events, 2. design complex computer models to simulate space weather conditions, and 3. study historical data from Earth. It is in this third category that Old Weather can help us, by charting the impact of space weather events from long before the space-age.

Old Weather volunteers have already found at least one example (http://blog.solarstormwatch.com/2012/06/13/sunspots-ahoy/) where sunspots were reported in a ship's log (presumably observed through fog or high cloud so the sailor on watch didn't severely damage his eyes!). Naked eye observations of sunspots are very rare and such observations are very important in putting other historical observations into context (there are many reports of sunspots in ancient Chinese and Korean records for example).

Other indications of space weather events are:
Observations of the aurora borealis (or, in the southern hemisphere, aurora australis) also known as the northern or southern lights. This phenomenon results from energetic particles falling into the Earth's upper atmosphere and exciting the gasses there, making the sky glow with vivid red, green and purple bands. The energetic particles that generate the aurora are electrically charged and so they are guided by the Earth's magnetic field to the north and south poles. The 'auroral oval' marks the ring around the poles over the (magnetic) latitude at which these particles are falling into Earth's atmosphere. The more impact a storm has, the further the north and south auroral ovals expand towards the equator. The position at which the aurora is seen is therefore a good indication of the severity of a particular solar storm. The colours of the aurora are also a useful indication of the energy of the incoming particles. Red aurorae generally result from the weakest 'drizzle' and tend to be high and diffuse fuzzy red glows. Green aurorae are generated by more energetic particles which can penetrate further into the atmosphere (though still only down to altitudes of around 100 km where they are still technically on the edge of space!). If seen together, green aurorae will occur below red aurora. The location of the aurora relative to the observer will also govern how it looks. If the aurora is directly overhead, it can look like rays expanding out from a single point. If the aurora is a little further away, the observer will see the aurora as billowing curtains that can move quite rapidly. If a long way off, the aurora will appear as a steady glow on the horizon. The intensity of the aurora will also depend on other factors like the phase and position of the moon in the sky. Faint aurora may appear white because the observer is not able to discern any colour. As well as the more spectacular displays, look out for recordings of unusual night-time cloud formations, particularly those that appear to have ray structures in them.

Erratic or inaccurate compass bearings can also result from the arrival of a solar storm at Earth. As charged particles fall into our atmosphere, generating the aurora, electrical currents start to flow high in the upper atmosphere. These deflect the Earth's magnetic field. Today, very sensitive compasses, known as magnetometers, are used to measure these tiny deflections of the Earth's magnetic field but the largest solar storms could also have caused a ship's compass to move erratically or even point in the wrong direction. Such global disruption is known as a 'magnetic storm'. Are there records of a navigational officer being flogged for incompetence? It may just have been that he was following a compass that was being deflected by a solar storm!

In 20th century ships' records, reports of poor wireless reception could also be an indication that Earth was in the grip of a solar storm. Long-distance wireless signals are transmitted over the horizon by being bounced off an electrified layer in the upper atmosphere known as the ionosphere. The ionosphere is generated when extreme ultraviolet light and x-rays emitted by the sun hit the Earth's atmosphere and ionise (electrify) a small fraction of it. As the aurora heats the atmosphere, it can temporarily alter the strength of the ionosphere. The upper parts of this electrified region reflect short-wave radio signals while the lower regions (where the atmosphere is thicker) absorb radio signals. Depending on where the ionosphere is affected therefore, radio reception could either be unusually good or unusually bad. Do the ship's logs record any times when the wireless operators managed to communicate over fabulously large distances? Or conversely, were there times when terrible radio reception was reported? If so, this could be due to an 'ionospheric storm'. The effects of space weather on the ionosphere can last for many days and, like the aurora, the closer to the equator such effects are detected, the more severe the ionospheric storm is likely to have been.

To summarise, please would you look out for observations of sunspots, aurorae, erratic compass bearings and unusual wireless reception? I appreciate that this may be a lot to take onboard in addition to your logging of meteorological data but if you could look out for any of the above we'd be extremely grateful as this could potentially give us a marvelously detailed insight into historic space weather events.

Thanks, in advance, for your time,

Chris (Solar Stormwatch Science Team)

Archive of the most severe solar storms and their aurorae, listed chronologically (http://www.solarstorms.org/SRefStorms.html)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 18 August 2011, 03:04:22

HMS Mantua, October 1915

14 Oct. 1915
6.00 pm: Northern lights visible NE to SW
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-48280/ADM%2053-48280-010_0.jpg
At Patrol Lat/Long 8pm 64 06 N, 04 07 W

and
15 Oct. 1915
9.00 pm: Northern lights visible
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-48280/ADM%2053-48280-010_1.jpg
At Patrol Lat/Long 8pm 64 34 N, 05 22 W

and
16 Oct. 1915
1.00 am: Northern lights visible at intervals
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-48280/ADM%2053-48280-011_0.jpg
At Patrol Lat/Long 8pm 64 20 N, 05 51 W

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Lancsgreybeard on 12 October 2011, 07:42:21

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-37906/0014_1.jpg

23 November, 1918 City of London in North Atlantic records
Liverpool to New York Lat/Long 8pm 54 32 N, 20 20 W

Brilliant Aurora Borealis

lgb

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jennfurr on 19 October 2011, 19:27:19

HMS Leviathan, April 7, 1918, en route to Halifax Nova Scotia

4am: Aurora Borealis throughout watch

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-46574/ADM%2053-46574-118_1.jpg

Lat/long not reported on log; previous noon ship was at 42 47 N, 56 37 W; this date arrived in Halifax harbor at 3pm map location 44.698, -63.619

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Tegwen on 17 December 2011, 06:47:17

https://s3.amazonaws.com/oldweather/ADM53-42346/0090_0.jpg

Galatea's log 16th December 1917.

See the 9.15pm entry. Observed Aurora Borealis very distinctly.

Lucky them!

Anchored at Rosyth, UK, map location 56.024, -3.452

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 31 March 2012, 19:38:05

HMS Raleigh - 1 Sept 1921 - off Nova Scotia
https://s3.amazonaws.com/oldweather/ADM53-82271/0026_0.jpg

Aurora Borealis active at 2345

Bermuda to Montreal Lat/Long 8pm 46 17 N, 61 35 W

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: sunshine16 on 03 May 2012, 09:36:20

Northern Lights very strong between 8p.m. and 10.p.m.

on HMS Iphigenia, 27th February 1916, somewhere around Murmansk

http://s3.amazonaws.com/oldweather/ADM53-44930/ADM%2053-44930-015_1.jpg

only logged location "Active Service"; Murmansk docks map location 68.980, 33.065

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: HebesDad on 11 June 2012, 13:13:24

See http://s3.amazonaws.com/oldweather/ADM53-44341/ADM%2053-44341-008_0.jpg - we have a nice report of unusually large sunspots.
10 Feb. 1917 noon lat/long 56 45 N, 11 44 W

This is the first time I've seen this recorded anywhere, and Hilarys are pretty much all run of the mill. I've seen aurora recorded elsewhere though.
Did these spots affect the weather later? Did other ships see them?

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 11 June 2012, 13:17:05

Hello Hebesdad..welcome! :)
I don't know about weather - but sunspots can wreak HAVOC with radio signals...especially at dawn and dusk.
Ava

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Helen J on 11 June 2012, 16:41:11

As a fellow member of Hilary's crew, it's fascinating to see this record, especially as the log keeper usually records everything in a very impersonal fashion. I like the sense that here he's thinking - 'these are different to the run of the mill ones'.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 12 June 2012, 07:47:39

I have moved this to Natural Phenomena and told the people over at Solar Stormwatch. :)
Thanks for posting, HebesDad.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: ChrisDavis on 12 June 2012, 12:18:13

Sunspots? Visible with the naked eye (hopefully!)? At noon? Wow! The log taker really did appreciate that it was something special. Big sunspots like that on the centre of the sun are prime candidates for Earth-directed solar storms like the ones we track over on solar stormwatch. Keep an eye out for reports of erratic compass bearings and (if they had them) poor wireless reception which can both be caused when a storm hits Earth. I'll try to take a look in our historical data archives to see if I can see reports of any such disturbances. If I find anything I'll be sure to let you know. Meantime I'd be interested to hear of any similar reports you find!

Chris (solar stormwatch)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 12 June 2012, 12:50:56

Just an aside:-I remember walking the Ridgeway (S England) in early summer 1978. We camped at The Devil's Punch Bowl and saw so many sizable sunspots at sunset...and our radio reception to check the weather was a hopeless job. Because it was relatively early it was scarcely dark at all so no hope to see an Aurora for sure.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 12 June 2012, 16:50:17

Just nipped over from Solar Stormwatch to share. Found this article in ADS:

The Sunspot with Longest Life (http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1951ASPL....6..146P&classic=YES) - Edison Pettit

A large sunspot group seems to have been recorded at the time of the Old Weather observation (10 Feb 1917.) Chris may have access to more records - but it's looking good! Meanwhile here's the relevant page: (attachment)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 12 June 2012, 17:25:52

I read the whole article - very interesting..didn't realise sunspots were that complicated. Thank you for posting it. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: ChrisDavis on 13 June 2012, 10:54:34

I've just written a blog post over on Solar Stormwatch. It can be found at http://blogs.zooniverse.org/solarstormwatch/2012/06/sunspots-ahoy/ (http://blogs.zooniverse.org/solarstormwatch/2012/06/sunspots-ahoy/). There you can see a comparison between the observations and photographs of the sunspots and find out about the resulting disturbances at the Earth. It really is a remarkably accurate record, thanks for bringing it to our attention! :)

Chris,

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 13 June 2012, 11:12:46

Wonderful! Thanks very much Chris and Jules.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jil on 13 June 2012, 11:45:54

The similarity between Hilary's log keeper's little drawing and the photo are amazing 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: HebesDad on 14 June 2012, 05:42:36

Wow, never guessed that one mention of the forum would lead to such an interesting and details followup.

My thanks to everyone - it's made my day!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 14 June 2012, 05:58:04

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 14 June 2012, 10:02:42

Great collaboration! If you find any more solar obs send 'em our way! ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 18 June 2012, 17:20:24

Quote from: HebesDad on 14 June 2012, 05:42:36

Wow, never guessed that one mention of the forum would lead to such an interesting and details followup.

My thanks to everyone - it's made my day!

Just to say the sunspot story gets a mention on the recycled electron's podcast: The People Inside Lintott. (http://tmblr.co/ZHgmwwNehhVM) :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 27 June 2012, 08:22:52

Quote from: HebesDad on 14 June 2012, 05:42:36

Wow, never guessed that one mention of the forum would lead to such an interesting and details followup.

My thanks to everyone - it's made my day!

And just when you thought the story was over.... We are in the middle of a big tidy up and I came across an old book from the 1940s called "The Earth's Wonders." It includes a section on wonders of the solar system (though slightly more low key than Prof Cox's version!) This is a page from a section on the Sun showing the February 1917 sunspots!

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2730/4497597277_83a0a4d5e6_z.jpg)

Just had to let you know! :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 27 June 2012, 08:47:32

That is a totally AWESOME find! I love this trail...it just gets better and better!
Ava

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 27 June 2012, 09:18:01

Amazing stuff! Thanks Jules. ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Helen J on 22 December 2012, 15:34:17

On 6th December 1915 Andes recorded 'very brilliant northern lights' at 5pm - they're on Northern Patrol, and midday position 64 46 N 12 58 W

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-33654/ADM53-33654-143_0.jpg

And the following day, at 10pm they record 'bright northern lights'.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-33654/ADM53-33654-143_1.jpg
noon lat 64 35 N, long 12 28 W

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Helen J on 24 December 2012, 12:08:49

Andes again - 26 February, 10.20pm: Brilliant Northern Lights

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-33654/ADM53-33654-189_0.jpg
noon lat/long 65 44 N, 9 14 E

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 24 December 2012, 13:01:16

Which must mean that there were lots of sunspots around...and here they are! I love it when the 'dots join up':
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1917Obs....40..293M (look on the left for page 294 because this mentions 23 sunspots, and Group 7624 on page 295.... whew!)
;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Helen J on 24 December 2012, 13:52:17

That's great, thanks ~~Kay~~./Joan! As you say, lovely when the dots join up ...

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Clewi on 25 December 2012, 08:16:44

Quote from: gastcra on 25 December 2012, 06:51:46

At 2.30 there was a moderate display of the aurora borealis which lasted about 10 minutes and was under the constellation Cassiopea.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_097_1.jpg

Listed here already:

http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=384.msg58069#msg58069

noon lat/long 69 09 58 N, 176 06 30 E

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Craig on 25 December 2012, 08:32:45

Thanks, Clewi. I forgot you had posted it.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 25 December 2012, 10:18:02

Actually, they are different. Dean posted for Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. Clewi posted for Thursday, Sept. 25th, with meteors added.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_097_1.jpg
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_120_1.jpg

The autumn of 1879 clearly had an active sky. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Clewi on 25 December 2012, 11:00:30

In fact, they are both listed there, among others. I will update the list as they keep coming.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Clewi on 31 December 2012, 08:10:20

Ah, old Jeanette....full of miracles:

2.12.1879 PM:

Quote

Weather misty until 7 when it cleared off. Very beautifull night. Moon and stars very bright. Lunar haloes showing prismatic colors at times. Lunar rainbow in the S at 10.30. Auroral arch (34? in altitude) from NNE to NNW (mag) which at 11.50 flashed into a magnificient auroral curtain.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_189_1.jpg

Drifting locked in pack noon lat 71 50 N, measured on planet Venus at meridian 12.11.1879; long not measured

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 25 January 2013, 18:39:01

Rodgers, St Lawrence Bay, Siberia. 23 Nov 1881. 8PM to Midnight.
Very brilliant and grand display of the Aurora, the brightest part in NW. The light extended from E to W by the N to Zenith. - The light was so bright at times that objects could be seen at some distances more distinctly than during the brightest moonlight - the stars were particularly bright, The light would pass over the heavens like waves, the outer edges of which were dark blue color and would then run into each other like waves seen in shoal water.

(Must have been a quiet night if that was all he had to write about. ;D )

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0182_1.jpg
St. Lawrence Bay, Siberia map lat/long 65.67, -171.08

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 27 January 2013, 03:12:49

Quote from: Kevin on 26 January 2013, 19:52:22

Note to Clewi & others transcribing aurora: I asked the PI of Solar Stormwatch about whether these obs would be useful. Here is his answer:

"That's a definite yes! Building up historical sequences of auroral observations is really quite important in studying solar activity before the space age."

I guess we'll be talking about this some more, but if aurora interests you I'd say the prime directive applies: if you enjoy it, keep doing it (and it looks like there is good reason to). AFTER the vegetables please! :)

THANK YOU, Kevin!

No need to quote auroral observations here if you don't want to (or if there are a lot of them), but it might be helpful to note the ship and the dates (or range of dates) - however, that is strictly optional!
(As most of you know, you can create a single post for the ship and then go back and add dates.)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 02 February 2013, 15:06:34

The Rodgers: Aurora records

03/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0131_1.jpg
Between Herald Ild and Cape Serdze-Kamen

Quote

Between 2 and 3. a.m. bright display of Northern Light
...
Ice blink on starboard beam between 9+11 P.m.

Between 71.39, -175.65 and 66.91, -171.63

05/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0133_1.jpg
Standing off Cape Serdze-Kamen

Quote

8 to midnight: Bright moonlight + starlight Aurora to Nd.

near 66.91, -171.63

24/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0152_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

8pm to Mid: Very brilliant display of aurora visible from NW by N to NE by N. brightest portion NNW.

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

27/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0155_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

Commence to 4 am: At 3.20 saw a very vivid meteor in the N'd + W'd

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

28/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0156_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

Commence to 4: At 1.15 brilliant Aurora began.

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

29/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0157_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

Commence to 4: At 1.15 brilliant Aurora began.

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

30/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0158_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

Commence to 4: Display of Aurora.

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

21/11/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0180_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

Commence to 4: Display of aurora during the watch - not very bright

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

23/11/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0182_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

8 pm to midnight: Very brilliant and grand display of the aurora - the brightest part in the NW. The light extended from the E. to W. by N., and to the zenith - The light was so bright at times that objects could be seen at some distance more distinctly than during the brightest moonlight - the stars were particularly bright - The light would pass over the heavens like waves, the outer edges of which were of dark blue color & would then run into each other like waves seen in shoal water.

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

24/11/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0183_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

Commence to 4: Display of aurora but not so bright as previous watch - but in same direction & same form

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

26/11/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0185_1.jpg
St Lawrence Bay, Siberia

Quote

8 to Midnight: Display of Aurora

65 40 0 N, 171 05 0 W ; 65.67, -171.09

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: olems on 03 February 2013, 12:32:23

Rodgers, beginning of Oct.

03/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0131_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0131_1.jpg)
"Between 2 and 3. a.m. bright display of Northern Light"
"Ice blink on starboard beam between 9+11 P.m."

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 03 February 2013, 14:02:06

Hi Olems,
Trying to be a bit helpful I thought I'd start a list of Rodgers' obs for phenomena - so I popped yours into it - hope that's OK!
Joan

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: olems on 05 February 2013, 18:51:50

Looks great :)

Here's another:

05/10/1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0133_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0133_1.jpg)
8 to midnight:
"Bright moonlight + starlight Aurora to Nd."

Ensign Stoney has a rather open relationship with punctuation, but he's excused considering the conditions they were under.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 05 February 2013, 19:08:07

Quote from: olems on 05 February 2013, 18:51:50

Ensign Stoney has a rather open relationship with punctuation, but he's excused considering the conditions they were under.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D a very true observation

05/10/81's aurora installed on list....grand :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 07 February 2013, 13:50:02

Keep an eye out for this:

Quote

On September 1?2, 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm occurred. Aurorae were seen around the world, even over the Caribbean; those over the Rocky Mountains were so bright that their glow awoke gold miners, who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning.[3] People who happened to be awake in the northeastern US could read a newspaper by the aurora's light.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Tegwen on 08 February 2013, 08:21:58

Quote from: Randi on 07 February 2013, 13:50:02

Keep an eye out for this:
Quote
On September 1?2, 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm occurred. Aurorae were seen around the world, even over the Caribbean; those over the Rocky Mountains were so bright that their glow awoke gold miners, who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning.[3] People who happened to be awake in the northeastern US could read a newspaper by the aurora's light.[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

It probably wont be in this league, but coincidentally I just received an email from Aurora Watch UK to say that tonight, peaking at 12.50 there is an amber warning for an aurora in the UK.

AuroraWatch UK amber alert, 2013-02-08 12:50:01UT. http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 20 March 2013, 23:13:54

An Aurora sighted at New London Conn 16 July 1982. That's a fair way down is it not, and mid summer there.
Starts at 8:45PM with an interesting description of what was seen and finished at 11:45PM

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Concord/vol013of040/vol013of040_150_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Concord/vol013of040/vol013of040_150_1.jpg)

(and yet another Court Martial taking place on the same page)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 20 March 2013, 23:58:47

The location makes that very interesting, but "16 July 1982" ??? :o

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 21 March 2013, 03:13:56

It's even more weird given that July 1882 contained one sunspotless day and not much else to report. :-\

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 21 March 2013, 03:26:06

If that's true, they will be doubly interested. But Joan, the typo should have been 1892.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 21 March 2013, 21:17:10

OOPs, 17 July 1892, everybody happy now. :P
Still mid summer and very low in lat.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 21 March 2013, 21:43:14

Quote from: Pommy Stuart on 21 March 2013, 21:17:10

OOPs, 17 July 1892, everybody happy now. :P
Still mid summer and very low in lat.

And still rare enough that I notified Solar Watch. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 22 March 2013, 00:32:41

The Aurora continues on to the 17th.

Also "Luminous clouds low down in sky to the northward." reported on the 31 July 1892.

Aurora?

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 25 March 2013, 18:11:58

We never could figure out if this was a comet, meteor (10 minutes is awful long!) or aurora.

Quote from: dorbel on 30 November 2011, 04:11:11

5th October, 1915, from the log of "Atalanta, 10-55pm, at sea about 50 miles off the SW coast of Britain.
Celestial phenomena commencing with vivid flashes of light, the "tail" being visible for 10 minutes bearing East, in shape of [symbol] (a circle with projections at 45 and 315 degrees). Impossible to mistake aircraft or rocket for above.

A comet? An enormous meteorite?

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 26 March 2013, 04:55:13

This is wondrous:

https://www.youtube.com/tv?vq=medium#/watch?v=_EVAECh21eU

This footage of the northern lights was filmed on 17 March near Gullfoss and Skaftafell in Iceland with multiple DSLR cameras.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: studentforever on 26 March 2013, 05:12:09

Fab. Some of those sequences are mindblowing.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 27 March 2013, 21:11:14

This post and the next are copied from

Quote from: Clewi on 21 December 2012, 02:59:45

Reported natural phenomena from Jeanette

It was too long to move here and add locations, and had some other events.

For readers not familiar with our logs, the jpg links ending with "xxxabc_1.jpg" are the right-hand side of a single photo of a spread open book. To see the left-hand weather/location page for that same date, manually change the "_1" to "_0". Also you can walk the images forward and back in each book by increasing/decreasing the "abc" in the url by the number of days you want to move.

Also, the Jeanette is a drifter. As of 03.09.1879, she was "beset in ice" with zero motive power available. There were no course changes. Charting the locations and the days when they were measured should give you good estimates of her position at any time during that 2-year event.

Reported phenomena so far:

02.09.1879 [AM]

Quote

At 2.30 there was a moderate display of the aurora borealis which lasted about 10 minutes and was under the Constellation Cassiopeia.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_097_1.jpg
noon lat 69 09 58, long 176 06 30

03.09.1879

Quote

Beset in the Pack Off Herald Island

from this point on, Jeanette is a drifter with no propulsion power. Location on dates with no recorded lat/long can be taken from charting other dates before and after.

21.09.1879

Quote

8 PM to Mid There was a fine aurora during the latter part of watch.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_116_1.jpg
noon lat 72 10 30, long 175 26 22

24.09.1879

Quote

At 1.40 [AM] there was a splendid aurora.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_119_1.jpg
noon lat no observation, long 175 21 21

25.09.1879 [AM]

Quote

Com & until 4 A.m. There was a fine aurora during watch.

[PM]

Quote

At 9 a brilliant aurora Extended in an arch about 60^o in height from E.S.E. to N.N.E. (true).

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_120_1.jpg
noon lat 72 08 07, long 174 54 30

27.09.1879

Quote

Fine display of northern lights from 2 to 3 [AM] in different colored waves.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_122_1.jpg
noon lat/long no observations

11.10.1879

Quote

At 12 [Midnight] there was a moderate display of the aurora.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_137_1.jpg
lat/long no observations; previous day noon 71 43 25, long 176 12 15

15.10.1879

Quote

Brilliant aurora about 1 [AM]

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_141_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

21.10.1879

Quote

Com & until 4 AM Faint display of aurora last hour.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_147_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

22.10.1879

Quote

From 8.30 to 11 [PM] there was a fine display of the aurora in an arch Extending from E by N (true) to WNW (true) with top of the arch being about 70^o above horizon.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_148_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

23.10.1879

Quote

From 8 until 9.30 there were three mock moons and a hazy arch about the moon.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_149_1.jpg
noon lat/long no observations; 8pm from stars Vega and Capella long 177 15 30 W

24.10.1879

Quote

Display of aurora at 3 [AM] and a fresh breeze from NW by N

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_150_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

02.11.1879

Quote

Aurora occasionally visible from 2 to 3[AM].

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_159_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

10.11.1879 [PM]

Quote

Very brilliant aurora.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_167_1.jpg
lat no observations; long by chronometer by observation of planet Mars 177 43 52 W

11.11.1879

Quote

Brilliant aurora until 1.30 [AM]

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_168_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

12.11.1879 [PM]

Quote

Faint aurora and bright starlight from 10 to 12.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_169_1.jpg
lat by observation of Planet Venus at Meridian Passage 71 54 N, long no observations

13.11.1879

Quote

Faint aurora at 6.[AM]

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_170_1.jpg
6.30pm by observation of stars lat 71 51 N, long 177 20 W

14.11.1879

Quote

Faint aurora from 8 to 12 [PM]

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_171_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

15.11.1879 [PM]

Quote

Faint aurora

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_172_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

17.11.1879 [PM]

Quote

Bright and clear from 8 to 12. Brilliant aurora.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_174_1.jpg
by chronometer of star Arcturus and Planet Mare lat 71 57 00 N, 176 54 00 W

21.11.1879 [PM]

Quote

Bright moon and stars. Halo about moon. Display of aurora between 10 and 12.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_178_1.jpg
by Az. of moon at 7.15pm lat 71 55 34 N, long 178 04 W

22.11.1879 [AM]

Quote

Auroral arch to the N~

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_179_1.jpg
lat/long observations from the 21st copied:
by Az. of moon at 7.pm lat 71 55 34 N, long 178 04 W

23.11.1879 [PM]

Quote

Auroral arch from 10 to 12

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_180_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

25.11.1879 [PM]

Quote

Auroral arch between 10 and 12. Brilliant reflections under the moon.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_182_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

01.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Occasional auroral gleams to N~

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_188_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

02.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Weather misty until 7 when it cleared off. Very beautifull night. Moon and stars very bright. Lunar haloes showing prismatic colors at times. Lunar rainbow in the S at 10.30. Auroral arch (34^o in altitude) from NNE to NNW (mag) which at 11.50 flashed into a magnificient auroral curtain.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_189_1.jpg
lat by obs. of star Aldebaran at Meridian passage 72 30 N
long by chronometer obs. of moon at 11.55pm 177 58 15 W

03.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Auroral arch and streamers during the evening.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_190_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

05.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Bright starlight. Auroral display during the evening and two meteors fell.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_192_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

06.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Auroral displays frequent

[PM]

Quote

Auroral display during evening.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_193_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 27 March 2013, 21:14:54

This second post and the previous are copied from

Quote from: Clewi on 21 December 2012, 02:59:45

Reported natural phenomena from Jeanette

It was too long to move here and add locations, and had some other events.
See the notes above for manipulating the scan urls.

07.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Very brilliant aurora.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_194_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

08.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Very brilliant aurora

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_195_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

09.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Slight auroral displays

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_196_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

11.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Very brilliant auroral arch to N~ having wave like motions.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_198_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

12.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Faint auroral gleams.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_199_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

14.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Faint auroral arch and gleams.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_201_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

16.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Faint auroral arch to the Northward.

[PM]

Quote

Auroral display

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_203_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

17.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Bright starlight and brilliant auroral arch to S~ of zenith.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_204_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

18.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Auroral gleams at times.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_205_1.jpg
lat by meridian altitude moon at 5pm 72 27 N
long by chronometer from observations of Planet Mars 178 23 W

19.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Bright starlight and auroral arches.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_206_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

22.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Bright moonlight and starlight. At 4.30 PM an Auroral arch of streamers in N by E magnetic. The crown of the arch having an altitude of 20^o. At 7 faint aurora to Northward. At 8 brilliant Aurora in an arch from E to W ( ~ magnetic) passing through zenith, with bright bows shooting up occasionally from Northern horizon. At 9 double Auroral arch from W to NE x E (~ magnetic), crown at North (magnetic) 60^o in altitude. Faint auroral patches under moon S x E (mag.) At 11 auroral Streamers beginning at NW (mag) arching to 30^o altitude at N (mag) and returning at NNE (mag) in an ellipse to begining.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_209_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

23.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Very faint auroral arch through zenith at 1 am from W to NE x E (mag). At 2 auroral Streamers in NW. Auroral arches until 4. At 3 an auroral ellipse from W to E. Centering in zenith having converging rays with brilliant colors. Moonlight and starlight. Moon at 7 much distorted by refractions.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_210_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

27.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

At 5 a light halo was observed around the moon showing prismatic colors. At 6 a lunar halo circle. At 7 a faint Aurora to NE. At 8 a halo.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_214_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

28.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

From 5.10 to 5.25 there was an eclipse of a small portion of the moons lower limb.

[PM]

Quote

Bright moonlight with reflections from ice beneath. Lunar circle at 3 and a column of light under the moon. Lunar circles observed during Evening.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_215_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

29.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

Frost dust in the air. Moondog on horizon to SW (mag).

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_216_1.jpg
Line of Position 9pm by observation of the moon.
lat assumed 72 20 N, long obtained 177 31 W
lat assumed 72 40 N, long obtained 177 11 W

30.12.1879 [AM]

Quote

At 3 am an Auroral curtain from W to NNW, ~ in center of same. At 4 a faint Auroral arch.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_217_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

31.12.1879 [PM]

Quote

Faint auroral arch to NW from 11 PM. Lunar circles.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_218_1.jpg
lat Meridian Altitude star Arcturus 7.30am 72 30 21 N
long by chronometer from forenoon observations moon 7.30am 177 26 20 W

1.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

At 3 a lunar circle was observed showing faint mock moons on the ~ ~ of its circumference, the lower mock moon being very bright. A very faint curved line passed through real and lateral mockmoons toward horizon.

[PM]

Quote

At 9 a blood red halo around the moon. At midnight an auroral arch to North extending from NE to NW and having a curtain from its eastern ends.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_219_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

2.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

Auroral arch 70^o in alt. South of zenith, in N x NW from 1 to 4, and Lunar halo at 3.

[PM]

Quote

Auroral arch at 11, crown passing through Polaris, and having radial~ from Easterly end. Arch extending from NW to NE.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_220_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

3.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

An auroral arch 20^o in altitude was observed at 1 in N and NW. A faint Aurora 15^o in altitude N at 2 and faint Auroral Streamers in NNE at 4.

[PM]

Quote

At 6 PM faint auroral gleam in N. at 7 the same to NNW. at 9 an Auroral arch to N which became very brilliant at 10, and at 11 became a faint ~ arch 10^o in altitude.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_221_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

4.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

At 12.30 a meteor, very brilliant, fell in a curved line from S to SE, and in exploding showed red, yellow and blue color like a rocket.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_222_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

5.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

At 3 am auroral arch 40^o in alt. in N extending from W by N to NE.

[PM]

Quote

At 10.30 remarkable meteoric light to Southward illuminating the floe with a brilliant green flash.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_223_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

6.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

Faint auroral arches were observed until 6 am, a meteor in S~ falling to SW, and another meteor in East falling to SE. Moon just above SE horizon at 7. During forenoon land was seen between SSE and SSW (magnetic) and recognized as the same land as was sighted on October 29th. & Seq. The land was much raised by refraction, and an inverted image presented over the real one. The outline of the real land much obscured. Appearances of land in direction of the bearing of Herald Island.

[PM]

Quote

At 2 PM the land outline was much plainer. A meteor was observed, at 4 and another at 9. Auroral arches from 5 to Midnight. The remarkable ones being a bright curtain at 9 forming an ellipse; two arches at 11. Starting from a point in NE and ending respectively in NNW and W. Coronas being 20^o and 90^o in altitude; and a four arch fan at midnight from the same point. Coronas 30^o, 60^o, 75^o and 90^o in Altitude, ~ at NNW, NW, NW x W and WNW. Twilight arch 10^o at 4 PM.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_224_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

7.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

At 1 auroral arches, 25^o N and 35^o, ~ diffused light ~; at 2 auroral arch through 80^o N, from NE to SW x W; also arch 15^o in S; at 3 auroral arches in N and S ~, Streamers and curved lines around the horizon with their center in zenith; at 4 auroral arch in S 25^o, extending from NE to W, fading upward; at 5 aurora in all parts of the heavens, but brightest at S, continuing until 8 at which time very faint.

[PM]

Quote

Weather continues clear and pleasant, with haze around horizon much of the time. Faint auroral gleam in SW at 5; at 10 auroral arch to N; the same continuing at 11 and accompanied by another, ~ ~, the one 20^o in alt the other passing through zenith. Under the lower one depended a black curtain through which stars could not be seen. The arches extended from NW to NE and were dim at midnight.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_225_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

8.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

Auroral arches with diffused light until 7 am.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol001of004/vol001_226_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

11.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

A very faint auroral arch in N by W. alt. extending through zenith.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_010_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

12.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

Faint auroral glow to N x NW at 1.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_011_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

13.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

At 1 auroral arch to W~ passing through zenith and having a curved curtain 15^o in alt in the North with radiations toward the zenith. At 2 auroral arch 25^o in alt from NW to NE and a faint arch from East to zenith. At 4 faint auroral arch from E to W through zenith. At 6 faint diffused aurora.

[PM]

Quote

Faint auroras in N at 5 and 6. At 10.30 auroral arch 15^o in alt to North from NE to NW; at 11 the same arch had a curtain depending from its eastern end to the horizon; and at midnight the same arch consisted of irregular motionless bands of white light, ~ the light thrown by the moon on Stratus clouds.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_012_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

14.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

At 1 an auroral arch 30^o in alt from NE to NW; and also a faint arch through the zenith; at 1.30 the two arches formed one arch through zenith from NE to W and quickly brightened from a ~ ~ into a curtain ~, and was ~ by an ~ movement with upward radiations. At 2 one arch to N~; 15^o in alt and one to S~ 40^o in alt with pale diffused light between; Southern arch very faint. Northern arch broken by dark Segment beneath ~ upward.

[PM]

Quote

At 9 an Auroral arch to N 15^o alt from NE to NW, which at 10 had become an irregular broken curtain. At 11 two arches from NE to NW one 15^o in alt the other 25^o, the lower one having fitful radiations toward the upper one. Suddenly the two became one brilliant arch 20^o in alt which at midnight had faded and became broken.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_013_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

15.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

The day opened very hazy, with Starlight and faint Aurora to N~. Fresh Westerly breezes with falling barometer and steady ~ temperatures. At 2.30 Sky cleared. At 2 a faint auroral arch, striped, passing through zenith; also two curtain arches in North, 10^o and 20^o in alt respectively with irregular upward radiations, extending from NE to West; at 3 faint auroral arch 5^o S of zenith, and a broken Auroral curtain to N 20^o in alt, with diffused light between them; at 4 a striped arch through zenith from NE to W, and a faint Curtain arch to N with diffused light between them; and at 5 brilliant auroral arch from E to W through zenith.

[PM]

Quote

Faint aurora in NE at 10, springing to NW with streamers. At 11 auroral arch 15^o in alt to N~ growing faint; and at 12 this same arch was broken but light with dark curtain underneath and streamers downward from Western End.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_014_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

16.1.1880 [AM]

Quote

At 1 auroral arch through zenith with radiating centre, also an arch to the N 20^o in alt with elliptical cloud-like forms and undulating movement extending from NE to W x N. At 2 an Auroral form in N with broken Semi-circle from E to W ~ faint diffused light; and at 2.20 an arch passing through zenith from E to W, simultaneously with ice movement.

[PM]

Quote

Several shocks to ship up to 7 o'clock from ice movement and pressure, but she retained the same heel, 2 1/2^o to Starboard. At 10 an Auroral Arch was visible to the SSW. At 11 there were four auroral arches: one 15^o in altitude with its crown in the N, one 25^o in alt with its crown in NW x W, one 15^o in altitude with its arch in SW, and one 10^o in alt with its crown in South. The amount of sky included by these arches was from NE around by N to SE. The beginning of the Second arch was alongside of its ending of the first, and so on. From these intermediate points Streamers ran upward toward the zenith. At midnight there were three arches to the S~, 12^o, 15^o and 18^o respectively in Altitude, and extending from ESE to WNW. Through the middle one there were continued pulsations of light from E to W, and at intervals of a few seconds only, globes of light showing prismatic colors (red and green principally) rolled across from E to W against the wind and ended at about 5^o from the horizon. Three of these globes in Transit were in sight at one time. This display lasted five minutes when the pulsations of light recommenced. Two arches were also visible in the N 15^o and 20^o in alt respectively with bands of light crossing them horizontally like chords. Northern and Southern Sets both originated in the ESE and ended in WNW while from both Sets there radiated faint arches through zenith.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol002of004/vol002_015_1.jpg
lat/long no observations

Next day with any location is 24.1.1880
lat about 7pm Meridian Altitude Mave star 72 16 57 N
long Time Sight of Moon 176 43 45 W

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Clewi on 27 March 2013, 21:35:14

??? These are only a small fraction of the auroras reported by the Jeannette anyway. And the least detailed ones.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 28 March 2013, 02:55:42

Quote from: Janet Jaguar on 27 March 2013, 21:11:14

...
For readers not familiar with our logs, the jpg links ending with "xxxabc_1.jpg" are the right-hand side of a single photo of a spread open book. To see the left-hand weather/location page for that same date, manually change the "_1" to "_0". Also you can walk the images forward and back in each book by increasing/decreasing the "abc" in the url by the number of days you want to move.
...

For a slightly more detailed explanation see: How to look at log pages before and after the one you are working on (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3598.0)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 28 March 2013, 02:59:42

Quote from: Clewi on 27 March 2013, 21:35:14

??? These are only a small fraction of the auroras reported by the Jeannette anyway. And the least detailed ones.

Putting a note here is very helpful, but I think the most important thing is to enter them on the Event tab - even if it is only the word aurora.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 28 March 2013, 12:37:26

This is a fantastic thread! Just had a read through it. Thanks everyone for taking the time to add the observations here - a great piece of cross project work. ;D
Jules (happy Solar Stormwatch mod)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 28 March 2013, 15:49:01

Nice to see you here, happy SSW mod Jules. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 29 July 2013, 12:23:55

Quote from: Maikel on 29 July 2013, 10:28:48

U.S.S. Yorktown, at anchor Bath, Maine.

6 to 8 p.m.: Observed an Aurora Borealis from 7.00 to 8.00.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol006of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol006of040_079_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol006of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol006of040_079_1.jpg)

3 September 1891
Lat/Long 43.9, -69.8 assuming the current Bath Harbor is where they were then.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Maikel on 31 July 2013, 04:36:10

U.S.S. Yorktown, at anchor off Bridgeport, Connecticut

09-09-1891 - 4 to 8 p.m.:
Bright aurora in northern heavens.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol006of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol006of040_085_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol006of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol006of040_085_1.jpg)

10-09-1891 - Midnight to 4 a.m.:
Aurora visible latter part of watch.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol006of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol006of040_086_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol006of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol006of040_086_1.jpg)

Lat 41.16, Long -73.18

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 31 July 2013, 07:32:05

Hi Maikel - looks like this might be the happy cause:
http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?bibcode=1891Obs....14..363C&db_key=AST&page_ind=0&data_type=GIF&type=SCREEN_VIEW&classic=YES
'The Large Sun-spot Group of Aug 28 - Oct. 4, 1891'

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Maikel on 31 July 2013, 10:24:24

2013 should be a high sunspot year, so 1891 ties nicely into the 11 year cycle. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 22 August 2013, 20:54:41

Quote from: AvastMH on 22 August 2013, 10:43:00

The Rodgers with an interesting fact for magnetic scientists.

'8 September 1881
Master Putnam ashore determining magnetic deviation. 11.00pm: Very brilliant display of Northern light covering the Eastern heavens. The effect of it could be noticed on the declinometer.'

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0106_1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 22 August 2013, 20:56:14

Quote from: AvastMH on 22 August 2013, 18:26:01

This might be a repeat entry: Aurora and Ice Blink

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0116_1.jpg
18 Sept 1881 The Rodgers near Wrangel Island:

8 to Midnight: Very brilliant display of Northern light, brightest in the SW. It would extend across the entire heavens, in a bow shape, changing its form very rapidly. Then suddenly shoot off in every direction, so bright as to have the appearance of day breaking.
Passing fine ice cakes. No heavy ice in sight, young ice forming.
Ice blink to Northward and Westward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

and then:
22 Sept 1881 The Rodgers near Wrangel Island:

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0120_1.jpg

8pm to Midnight: Light breeze from W by N. Weather pleasant. Partially clear. Brilliant aurora last hour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 22 August 2013, 22:15:42

Thanks Janet - I've not posted here before and it doesn't come easily to mind. I've still got more to go on Rodgers, so I'll try to get into the habit ;) 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 22 August 2013, 22:24:41

Solar Stormwatch Zoo like what we find. Nice to have more uses for our efforts.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 22 August 2013, 22:43:58

Yep - got to keep our Fan Clubs happy ;D
And here's more delights
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This might be a repeat entry: Aurorae and Ice Blinks:

24 Sept 1881 The Rodgers near Wrangel Island:

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0122_1.jpg

12.35am: Ice blink very plain from SSE to NW by W.
3.00am: Very brilliant aurora. Light enough on deck to read large print.
8pm to Midnight: Brilliant display of aurora.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
25 Sept 1881 The Rodgers

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0123_1.jpg
8pm to Midnight: Brilliant aurora.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
30 September 1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0128_1.jpg
Bright display of Northern Lights during the watch, brightest between 2 and 3am.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 October 1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0129_1.jpg

6 to 8pm: Luminous water.
9.00pm: Aurora to Northward and Eastward
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 October 1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0131_1.jpg
Between 2 and 3am bright display of Northern Light. Water very luminous.
Ice blink on starboard beam between 9 and 11pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 October 1881
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/USS%20Rodgers/Rodgers_1881/b001of010_0133_1.jpg
8pm to Midnight: Aurora to Northward.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: camiller on 06 September 2013, 10:04:10

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_018_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_019_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_020_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_021_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_029_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_043_1.jpg

Auroras sighted February and March, 1881 from USS Jeannette

camiller, I just replaced the 'edit' links with JPEG links on the first 2 lines - the edit links can only be read by moderators. ;)
Janet

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: camiller on 08 September 2013, 19:00:04

Quote from: camiller on 06 September 2013, 10:04:10

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_018_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_019_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_020_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_021_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_029_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_039_1.jpg

Auroras sighted February and March, 1881 from USS Jeannette

Ditto above. Janet :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: camiller on 09 September 2013, 18:50:01

Thanks, Janet. Randi told me about this; I hope I'm doing it correctly now!

Carolyn

Quote from: camiller on 08 September 2013, 19:00:04

Quote from: camiller on 06 September 2013, 10:04:10
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_018_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_019_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_020_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_021_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_029_1.jpg

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jeannette/vol004of004/vol004_039_1.jpg

Auroras sighted February and March, 1881 from USS Jeannette

Ditto above. Janet :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 09 September 2013, 19:15:46

You are doing it perfectly. Glad to have you with us. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: camiller on 09 September 2013, 20:32:49

Great! The aurorae described in these logs must have been spectacular!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 10 September 2013, 13:07:58

Hi Camiller - and welcome!
If you look up the auroral activity map run by NOAA it shows that the Jeannette is bobbing around in the 'hotspot' band that circles the north pole. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapN.html
They are perfectly placed to get those fabulous views - lucky things...
Joan :-)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: camiller on 10 September 2013, 13:12:03

Quote from: AvastMH on 10 September 2013, 13:07:58

Hi Camiller - and welcome!
If you look up the auroral activity map run by NOAA it shows that the Jeannette is bobbing around in the 'hotspot' band that circles the north pole. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapN.html
They are perfectly placed to get those fabulous views - lucky things...
Joan :-)

Cool! Thanks.
Carolyn

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 13 February 2014, 16:00:23

USS Jamestown - 17 January 1880 - Sitka, Alaska 57.05, -135.33
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jamestown/vol042of040/vol042of067_074_1.jpg

Commences and until 4 A.M.

Quote

Brilliant display of Aurora Borealis first half of watch.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: propriome on 11 March 2014, 05:51:42

USRC Unalga - 27 January 1916 - in Gulf of Alaska 57.52, -142.39
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Unalga//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/UNALGA//b2567/b2567_139_1.jpg

8:00pm to Mid

Quote

Northern Lights were very brilliant during the middle of this watch

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 14 May 2014, 03:13:02

Quote from: Maikel on 14 May 2014, 03:09:14

U.S.S. Yorktown - At anchor Sitka, Alaska 57.05, -135.33

26-08-1894, 8 p.m. to midnight:
Observed an Aurora Borealis at 9.00 lasting about 10 minutes.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol012of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol012of040_076_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol012of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol012of040_076_1.jpg)

28-08-1894, 8 p.m. to midnight:
Between 9.10 and 9.25 was a faint display of the Aurora or Northern lights, showing in streaks above the mountains.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol012of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol012of040_078_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol012of040_cr2_to_jpg/vol012of040_078_1.jpg)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 26 July 2014, 15:53:55

Just popping in from Solar Stormwatch to say that I am about to go through this thread and collate all the observations (finally!) Thanks for all the contributions so far - this is really great! I hope we find something interesting. If you come across any more references to the aurora or problems with compass readings or radio reception please keep posting them here! :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 26 July 2014, 16:48:23

Glad to have you stop by, Jules.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 27 July 2014, 10:28:15

Thanks Janet!

Apologies if I've missed this somewhere folks but do we know what kind of compasses were on board? According to a quick search on the web pre-1907 ships would have had a magnetic compass and post-1907 ships would have had a gyroscopic compass (or gyro compass.) The gyroscopic kind point to true north and are, therefore, unaffected by the Earth's magnetic field. I can always look up the date (and specs) of each ship mentioned in this thread so it's not a problem. I just wondered if I had missed a good compass discussion somewhere!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 27 July 2014, 11:21:30

Jules, when there were choices other than magnetic, they frequently labeled the readings (m) for magnetic and (T) for true. This is true on RN ships in WW1 as well, so don't count on a complete removal and replacement of every compass in the fleet for at least 10 years after the gyros became available. For certain, all of our ships on both sides of the pond would occasionally 'spin the ship' to insert wedges and note deviations in the compass reading, such as this from Ark Royal on 15 Feb. 1915

4edebcef14d0450578000ddf: (https://s3.amazonaws.com:443/oldweather/ADM53-34098/0042_0.jpg)
Log Page - Record of Observations and Compass Deviation - Left half
4edebcef14d0450578000de0: (https://s3.amazonaws.com:443/oldweather/ADM53-34098/0042_1.jpg)
Log Page - Record of Observations and Compass Deviation - Right half
4edebcef14d0450578000de1: (https://s3.amazonaws.com:443/oldweather/ADM53-34098/0043_0.jpg)
Log Page - Record of Description and Position of Correctors - Left half
4edebcef14d0450578000de2: (https://s3.amazonaws.com:443/oldweather/ADM53-34098/0043_1.jpg)
Log Page - Record of Comparisons of Standards with Compasses

Also, if we are transcribing from an original logbook and not from the monthly copies sent back to the Admiralty, there will be a page on instrumentation and armour that will include something about the position and deviations of the "standard compass".

4edebcec14d0450578000d94: (https://s3.amazonaws.com:443/oldweather/ADM53-34098/0004_1.jpg)
Log Page Listing: Ship's Company; Barometer; Thermometers - Air/Sea; Compass deviation; Armament ; Torpedo Armament; Ship's boats; Miscellaneous Information

Our American ships would note in the logbook that they did swing the ship, but frequently do not include the table of deviations.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 27 July 2014, 11:34:57

Thanks Janet - really helpful. Yes - I suspected only new builds after 1907 would have been fitted with the new gyroscopic compasses.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Dean on 27 July 2014, 12:08:13

Jules:

'Swinging a compass' is something that needs done periodically to make sure it works properly.

I have just done it on my boat as I have recently installed a new one!

This might give you some background: http://www.compassadjustment.com/#4

I'll see if I can find a better reference. ;)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 27 July 2014, 17:58:45

That is very specific, Dean, including why all ships always have at least one magnetic compass. I'm assuming that includes the newfangled gyro compasses - if they need a power supply to keep spinning, which might get interrupted?

Jules, I forgot to copy one new one here - my hard-drive crashed last month and I lost track of a number of things. This was found the day after I brought mine to the shop for repairs.

Quote from: h.kohler on 25 June 2014, 12:37:46

From H.M.S. Ambrose:

10.20 pm: Observed Northern lights.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-33489/ADM53-33489-012_0.jpg

And the next day:

1.5 am: Observed rays of light appearing to the westward, lights increasing in density and movements until they formed an arc from horizon to horizon being green and white in colour with rapid changes.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-33489/ADM53-33489-012_1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Maikel on 28 July 2014, 02:33:53

At the start of each log-book U.S.S. Yorktown dutifully lists their observed compass deviations.
E.g. http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol013of040_jpg_clean/vol013of040_006_1.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Yorktown/vol013of040_jpg_clean/vol013of040_006_1.jpg)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 28 July 2014, 06:34:34

You are such a helpful lot! I didn't realise compasses were so fascinating! Thanks all. ;D 8)

I do have some gaps in the lat/lon for the USS Jeanette (thanks Clewi for the meticulous recording of aurora sightings!) It's been a while since I transcribed over here - is there anywhere specifically I can look for lat/lon on particular days for this ship?

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 28 July 2014, 10:25:26

Jules, she was drifter locked in the ice - impossible to change course on you for the majority of her time in the arctic. simply extrapolate her drift. Philip did a blog and vimeo showing her course in miniature; that and other blogs that mention the Jeannette are at http://blog.oldweather.org/?s=Jeannette

Maikel, Howard or Caro, can we run JP mapss for Jules with given lat/longs?

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 28 July 2014, 10:36:35

We can try. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 28 July 2014, 13:20:31

Thanks guys - I really should read the whole thread before wading in with questions! Just found the bit which tells me how to navigate the books via url and also that the Jeanette was a drifter and pretty stuck most of the time.

I've almost gone through the whole thread now and there are some wonderful descriptions of the aurora. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed - this really is a fabulous untapped resource. I'll be liaising with Chris from Solar Stormwatch once the spreadsheet is complete and will keep you updated on what happens next. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 28 July 2014, 13:24:02

And I have no idea what a "JP mapss" is but if you think it will help - yes please. The latitude and longitude - particularly latitude - is an essential parameter. Thanks again! :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Maikel on 28 July 2014, 13:38:40

JP maps = Journey Plotter (http://journeyplotter.ihostfull.com/) maps.

Journey Plotter (JP) reads the edited logs from Naval-History.net and plots the noon positions from the logs onto a map.
You can use the calender control to go to a certain date and read the position.
Or you export the route, or a part of it, e.g. to a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file.

If you need positions from ships not yet edited, give me a shout, I can help you out if needed.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 28 July 2014, 17:34:54

Got it! I'll take a look later. Spreadsheet now complete - I'll check and tidy it up tomorrow - time for a well earned drink now! ::)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 28 July 2014, 20:43:16

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Dean on 30 July 2014, 08:27:08

Quote from: jules on 28 July 2014, 17:34:54

Got it! I'll take a look later. Spreadsheet now complete - I'll check and tidy it up tomorrow - time for a well earned drink now! ::)

Quote from: Maikel on 28 July 2014, 13:38:40

JP maps = Journey Plotter (http://tinyurl.com/journeyplotter) maps.

Journey Plotter (JP) reads the edited logs from Naval-History.net and plots the noon positions from the logs onto a map.
You can use the calender control to go to a certain date and read the position.
Or you export the route, or a part of it, e.g. to a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file.

If you need positions from ships not yet edited, give me a shout, I can help you out if needed.

Jules - You might not know - Maikel is too humble! ....he WROTE the JP program so he can be VERY helpful to you in your research. ;)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 30 July 2014, 09:37:47

:o :o
Wow - I am *so* not worthy! Very impressive work indeed. 8) Planning to explore the JP more later today.

Just working on the spreadsheet. 121 sightings and 17 ships. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 30 July 2014, 13:05:29

Note to Maikel and Jules: the word from Kevin is that Nico, Jeannette's editor does indeed have corrected lat/longs for her drifting and we will get a very readable transcription of her log this week from which an accurate JP map can be made.

I'm told there are 2 versions, with and without additions from the published captain's log giving sea ice descriptions.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Maikel on 30 July 2014, 13:41:48

Quote from: Dean on 30 July 2014, 08:27:08

Jules - You might not know - Maikel is too humble! ....he WROTE the JP program so he can be VERY helpful to you in your research. ;)

Thanks Dean. :D

Humble is my middle name.

[In a Kryten voice]
Lying mode off.
You see Mister Lister, Sir, I'm getting the hang off it.
I'm getting better and better at lying.
;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 30 July 2014, 15:08:47

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 03 August 2014, 11:48:00

Well Maikel's JP tool is fascinating. I've just spent way too long playing with it. Nice job! 8)

There are enough coordinates in this thread to map the positions of all the aurora sightings. I don't think the gaps in the Jeanette's lon/lat recordings are a problem. She observed all her aurora sighting from the arctic circle and didn't move too far in between sightings. She might have been stuck in pack ice and met a miserable end but she was certainly in the right place for some light shows!

I need to do some final tweaking and work on one or two things but here's a quick and dirty map showing the positions of all the auroral sightings:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14614741670_0eeb8ee778_z.jpg)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 03 August 2014, 12:02:45

Nice work, Jules. I had a feeling you would like Journey Plotter. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 03 August 2014, 17:43:18

And this just puts everything into perspective.

Why an 1879 voyage is a time machine for climate change. (http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-an-1879-voyage-is-a-time-machine-for-climate-change-1406937914)

EDIT - Just realised that this is paywalled unless you go via Facebook.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 03 August 2014, 18:03:08

Gina says

Quote

If the link doesn't let you read the article, just google "time machine for polar ice" and click on the WSJ article.

That worked for me.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 03 August 2014, 18:17:40

Ah good! There also seem to be a few sites running this article and the first view is free.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 03 August 2014, 19:40:45

For me, I had to find it on Facebook and connect in thru that link. (I did share it on my Janet Jaguar page. :) )

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 04 August 2014, 04:02:34

If the Facebook links no longer connect to the full article...
http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=16.msg92263#msg92263

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: leelaht on 03 September 2014, 21:07:12

Jamestown July 16 1892 (New London Conn)

Between 8 and 9 PM observed a band of auroral light extending across the heavens from NW to SE and later from ten to half past eleven brilliant displays of aurora borealis all over the northern half of the hemisphere

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 04 September 2014, 12:58:14

Yay! Please keep noting the space weather observations - there's lots of work to do on these yet. I found some more (not many) from the edited logs though it doesn't help having ships named Aurora and Northen Lights!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: elizabeth on 20 October 2014, 02:51:52

:) Oh well think this goes here. If posted before sorry.

Quote from: elizabeth on 19 October 2014, 08:20:16

Oh I found this when I first started to transcribe on this ship. I thought it was cool! maybe some will agree, then maybe not :-\ Oct 2 1903 http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Commodore%20perry//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/COMMODORE%20PERRY//vol176/vol176_090_1.jpg
at 1:30 a display of aurora borealis cool too 8) 8) 8)

Perry - 2 Oct. 1903 - Wrangel Strait, Alaska

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: elizabeth on 20 October 2014, 03:48:37

Quote from: elizabeth on 20 October 2014, 02:51:52

:) Oh well think this goes here. If posted before sorry.
Quote from: elizabeth on 19 October 2014, 08:20:16
Oh I found this when I first started to transcribe on this ship. I thought it was cool! maybe some will agree, then maybe not :-\ Oct 2 1903 http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Commodore%20perry//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/COMMODORE%20PERRY//vol176/vol176_090_1.jpg
at 1:30 a display of aurora borealis cool too 8) 8) 8)

Perry - 2 Oct. 1903 - Wrangel Strait, Alaska

oh! oh I get it thanks Randi. :-*

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 27 October 2014, 16:08:36

Hi all, :)

Just to let you know that the space weather project is still going. In fact it's turned into something bigger and more long term than originally planned. When there is any news I'll post updates. Right now I am trying to squeeze as much information out of the data as possible and I'm on the lookout for additional observations, so if you spot any references to aurora, meteors, odd compass behaviour etc please keep posting them.

Meanwhile, I thought you might be interested in a comparison of this week's naked eye sunspot with the 1917 sunspot you found and Chris blogged (http://blog.solarstormwatch.com/2012/06/13/sunspots-ahoy/) about. Here's a quick visual comparison:

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/15024098714_500df90671_c.jpg)

And this is what it looked like through cloud - hard to get a purely eyeball version with a camera as the camera has picked up 2 smaller spots which I couldn't see naked eye but you get the idea.

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/15584490422_6d8705e022_c.jpg)

Isn't the Sun great? It rarely disappoints. ;)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 27 October 2014, 16:10:24

8) 8) 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 27 October 2014, 16:53:11

Really cool pics. Glad to know more projects are using our work. :) 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: elizabeth on 28 October 2014, 04:15:13

;D Awesome!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 30 October 2014, 04:45:10

I haven't found this mentioned before so ...
HMS Alsatian:

4caf83a6cadfd34197001a43: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-33378/ADM53-33378-043_1.jpg)

25 October 1914

Lat 62.4, Long -10.1

6.35am: At Lat 60 45N, Long 8 1 2W *obs. Noted large and increasing deviations on standard and spare compass

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 30 October 2014, 14:48:18

Caro, I hope you are not barking up the wrong ~~tree~~ compass

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 30 October 2014, 15:04:51

Nope. :)
It's worth reporting.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 30 October 2014, 15:35:21

Alsatian, bark, ~~tree~~ Compass, sorry it was a bad joke. :-[

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 30 October 2014, 16:28:45

;D ;D I liked it!

Glad to see that Caro is doggedly searching out more observations. ;)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 30 October 2014, 16:36:11

::)

(Now look what you've started, Stuart. ;) I got your joke. )

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 14 November 2014, 15:41:46

Thetis 14 Nov 1888, at anchor near Victoria BC
Between mid and 4am I found this post:

(http://kookabura.smugmug.com/photos/i-wVkkpRq/0/O/i-wVkkpRq.jpg)
Many meteors during the watch, - one very brilliant one to the southward.

Thanks to Hanibal94 for deciphering assistance.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol007of024/vol007_112_1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 14 November 2014, 16:37:19

I am delighted to say that this Leonid shower was also reported in the UK:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v39/n995/abs/039084a0.html
in Nature Journal: Nature 39, 84-85 (22 November 1888):

The Leonid Meteor-Shower, 1888
W. F. DENNING
Abstract
AT Bristol rain fell heavily between midday on November 12 and the same time on November 13, a 5-inch gauge registering an inch and eight-tenths, which is by far the greatest downpour of the year within twenty-four hours. In the afternoon of November 13 the clouds broke, and the weather showed a disposition to become more favourable. At night the sky was moderately clear at times. I began to watch for the return of the Leonids at 15h. 30m., but there were many clouds until about 16h, when the firmament cleared and remained nearly cloudless until 18h. During the 2.5 hours 1 counted 29 shooting-stars, and of these 17 were Leonids; so that the shower was pretty conspicuous. The radiant-point was at 149 degrees + 22 degrees, which is almost identical with the place assigned to it in previous years.
____________________

I love it when these things come together. Well done the Thetis Watch, well done Kookaburra and Hanibal94.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 14 November 2014, 17:21:45

Really makes me think of what a small world it truly is - across our tiny sphere people are admiring the same meteorologic events!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 14 November 2014, 18:27:36

All of us on a tiny island floating in a magnificent universe. I don't see how anyone can see that and doubt that there is a Creator.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 14 November 2014, 18:40:16

I love these 19th century meteor reports. However, having being prodded by Randi, ;D I think I was being a little over zealous asking for meteor reports in this thread. Thing is, some of the meteor reports in this collection are so unusual they could be anything from meteors or ball lightning to actual aurora! But to save people from cross-posting I think they really belong in the Natural Phenomena thread - which I do dip into regularly to see if there is anything useful.

But please keep posting any aurora sightings and compass shenanigans here. There is so much information to tease out of the reports so far (things like aurora strength and direction) that it's going to be difficult to decide which final plots to use. I do like a good spreadsheet though (which is how I came to be involved!)

Chris Scott is the driving force behind this (when his day job allows!) and I'll post progress reports when there are any. We are really hoping to get an article published out of this - a good example of volunteer-led citizen science. :)

Who would have thought ships' logs and solar science were so interlinked?

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 14 November 2014, 20:01:59

Quote from: Janet Jaguar on 14 November 2014, 18:27:36

All of us on a tiny island floating in a magnificent universe. I don't see how anyone can see that and doubt that there is a Creator.

Janet.
You forgot the Elephants and Turtle.
::)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 14 November 2014, 21:11:33

Quote from: Pommy Stuart on 14 November 2014, 20:01:59

Quote from: Janet Jaguar on 14 November 2014, 18:27:36
All of us on a tiny island floating in a magnificent universe. I don't see how anyone can see that and doubt that there is a Creator.

Janet.
You forgot the Elephants and Turtle.
::)

I was extremely careful to not define "Creator" on any level - my own ideas are clear but not universal. It is just very hard for me to think something that enormous and intricate and complex just happened by accident.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hanibal94 on 15 November 2014, 05:20:46

Quote from: Pommy Stuart on 14 November 2014, 20:01:59

Quote from: Janet Jaguar on 14 November 2014, 18:27:36
All of us on a tiny island floating in a magnificent universe. I don't see how anyone can see that and doubt that there is a Creator.

Janet.
You forgot the Elephants and Turtle.
::)

And the Flying Spaghetti Monster - how could anyone possibly doubt His existence? ;) ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 11 January 2015, 16:24:44

HMS Orotava, 12 January 1915
Noon position 61.8, -1.9
10pm: Considerable Aurora Borealis
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-53780/ADM%2053-53780-017_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 28 January 2015, 18:19:28

Thetis, 27 August 1889, Point Barrow, Alaska

At 11.50 observed an aurora in the shape of a narrow arch of pale green light bearing from ESE (pc) to WSW (pc) and about 15^o high at the center, lasting about 3 minutes.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_035_1.jpg
Location "At anchor off Point Barrow"
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_035_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 29 January 2015, 13:06:14

Thetis, 28 August 1889, Point Barrow, Alaska

At 12.10 to 12.50 a display of Aurora Borealis took place at frequent intervals and consisted of a series of arches of narrow bands of light to southward of ship, of altitude from 15^o to 60^o extending in an east and west direction per compass. Light of pale straw color. At 12.50 the Eastern end of upper arch broadened into a wide arch of drifting light and the arch was rainbow colored from straw to dark red.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_036_1.jpg
Location "At anchor off Point Barrow"
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_036_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 30 January 2015, 10:45:47

03 Sept 1889

At 11.45 observed Aurora borealis in the shape of spreading rays of pale green starting from a altitude of 10^o bearing East (mag) and reaching to the zenith. Display not very distinct on account of passing flumes of snow.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_042_1.jpg
Location "At anchor off Icy Cape"
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_042_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 30 January 2015, 18:05:22

Thetis, 08 Sept 1889, near Wrangel Island, Russia

At 10 pm a brilliant display of Aurora Borealis began which continued during rest of watch. Brilliant bands of light in a general East & West (pc) direction passing overhead from North to South (pc) hanging like curtains overhead and full of drifting shafts of light, at 11 pm a bright display overhead occurred, the lights shifting from crimson to light green and extending in shafts from zenith towards horizon.
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_047_1.jpg

Noon co-ordinates:
71 25 00 , 173 52 00
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_047_0.jpg

I would have liked to see this one!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 30 January 2015, 18:17:21

"...at 11 pm a bright display overhead occurred, the lights shifting from crimson to light green and extending in shafts from zenith towards horizon."

It probably looked like this overhead pic taken by one of the guys on my Norway trip.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 30 January 2015, 18:31:18

Yes, it does look much like the description! Were you on the Thetis in 1889? :P

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 30 January 2015, 19:05:14

Old I is, but NOT that old :P

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 31 January 2015, 13:04:41

Thetis, 9 Sept 1889
Position: N70 22 00 , W172 48 00
Near Wrangel Island, Russia
From 9.20 until 10.30 observed Aurora Borealis. Display very slight on account of fog, escalating at 10.10 when a brilliant display took place, lasting about 3 minutes, It was in the shape of a broad band of scintillating light combing most of the colors of the rainbow and stretching in an arch from East (pc) to NW (pc) about 15^o at its center.
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_048_1.jpg
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_048_0.jpg

11 Sept 1889, 8pm to mid, at anchor off Point Hope, Alaska
After 11.30 a display of Aurora Borealis occurred, a low arch in northern sky, East & West in direction and of pale straw to red in color.
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_050_1.jpg
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_050_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 31 January 2015, 13:06:23

Lucky you!
I would love to see one.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 02 February 2015, 15:13:38

17 Sept 1889
Off Point Hope Alaska
Thetis

Morning
From 1.15 till 2.15 Aurora Borealis visible: an arch from NW to SE (pc) shifting from northern sky through zenith to southern sky: with much nebulous light to the north (pc).

Evening
From 9.30 until end of watch an Aurora Borealis was visible at intervals in the northern sky, being a light straw colored band - never very bright and no crackling sound could be hear.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_058_1.jpg
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_058_0.jpg

Next day - morning, same location
The Aurora Borealis mentioned in the last watch lasted until 2.30 in the shape of a narrow arch of pale green light extending from ENE (pc) to WNW (pc) about 10o high in the center. No crackling sound apparent.
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_059_1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kookaburra on 22 February 2015, 15:14:00

18 Nov 1889
Thetis
Off Sitka, Alaska

Aurora Borialis visible during watch over hills to the northward.

Description not as complete as those seen a couple of months earlier

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Thetis/vol009of024/vol009_118_1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: exim202 on 24 February 2015, 13:52:59

Perry: 15 October 1909. Clarence Strait, near Ship Island. 8 pm - Mid.
11 30 brilliant display of Northern Lights
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Commodore%20perry//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/COMMODORE%20PERRY//vol189/vol189_115_1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 25 February 2015, 19:09:30

Insane!! Googled your aurora report Exim as 'sunspots october 1909' and got this: San Francisco Call, Volume 106, Number 131, 9 October 1909: SAYS SUN SPOTS ARE INCREASING
http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC19091009.2.104.23

Let's hear it for Professor Burckhalter!
Great post Exim. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 26 February 2015, 07:03:10

8) 8) 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: exim202 on 26 February 2015, 07:21:25

Nice one, AvastMH! It really brings it alive reading stuff like this.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 28 February 2015, 16:48:22

HMS Mantua

10 March 1915
9.30pm: Very vivid Aurora Borealis from NW
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-48273/ADM%2053-48273-008_0.jpg
8.00pm 64 06N, 10 19W

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: exim202 on 01 March 2015, 16:44:55

Compass deviation recording. Not sure what data was needed here so I've recorded all of it!

Variation of compass: 18 1/4 oE.
Error of compass observed at 17 1/2 oE.
Deviation of compass on NNW. 0o 45' W
Perry, 6 May 1910. At sea, off Californian coast.
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Commodore%20perry//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/COMMODORE%20PERRY//vol190/vol190_132_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: exim202 on 01 March 2015, 17:19:48

And another.

Variation of compass: 23o 15'E.
Error of compass observed at Lat. 47oN 23o-20oE.
Deviation of compass on NW1/4N 0o-5oE.
Perry, 8 May 1910. At sea, off Washington coast.
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Commodore%20perry//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/COMMODORE%20PERRY//vol190/vol190_134_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: exim202 on 01 March 2015, 17:25:49

And:

Variation of compass: 24o 45'E.
Error of compass observed at 23o 07'E.
Deviation of compass on East 1o 38'N.
Perry, 9 May 1910. At sea, Straits of Juan de Fuca
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Commodore%20perry//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/COMMODORE%20PERRY//vol190/vol190_135_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 01 March 2015, 17:48:43

What is apparently interesting is, lots of folk were studying the sun and its spots that week because Haley's Comet was in the sky on May 19th and there was lots of speculation on its effect on sunspots and earthquakes. Just examples:
Los Angeles Herald, Volume 37, Number 230, 19 May 1910
http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19100519.1.1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN------

and Los Angeles herald [microform]., May 19, 1910, Image 1
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1910-05-19/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1910&index=0&rows=20&words=ASTRONOMER+COMET+SUN&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1910&proxtext=comet+sun+astronomer&y=15&x=20&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (this one is my favorite)
http://www.newspapers.com/image/55389343/

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 05 March 2015, 15:57:25

Hi all!

Thanks for keeping this thread going! I've checked with Chris and he says that the compass deviations are definitely worth recording - so thanks for looking out for them (as well as any aurora sightings) and putting them here. :)

We are still working on the USS Jeannette records - there is so much information in those logs as well as an incredible story. Once that is done the other ships will get some attention.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 06 March 2015, 09:15:56

Thanks Jules. :)

HMS Cumberland

8 March 1915
Observed northern light from midnight till 2.30 am
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-39036/ADM%2053-39036-007_0.jpg
8.00am: 66 6N, 9 45E

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 22 March 2015, 12:12:13

Compass Errors
From the USS Patterson underway to Honolulu, November 1913:

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6402_0.jpg
07/11/1913
4 a.m. Compass Error 15.5 Degrees E.
Lats and Longs (Dead Reckoning) for noon are given

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6403_0.jpg
08/11/1913
5 a.m. Compass Error 17.5 degrees E
7 a.m. Compass error, 17 degrees E.
Lats and Longs (Dead Reckoning) for noon are given

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6404_0.jpg
09/11/1913
5 a.m. Compass Error 15 degrees E
7 a.m. Compass Error, 15 degrees E.
3 p.m. comp error 15.0 degrees E
Lats and Longs (Dead Reckoning) for noon are given

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6407_0.jpg
12/11/1913
2 p.m. Comp Err. 12 degrees E
(next line shows: 5 Long 155 degrees 30 seconds W P.H.)
5 p.m. Compass Error 13 degrees E.
Lats and Longs (Dead Reckoning) for noon are given

I'll update this as more records appear.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Helen J on 23 March 2015, 12:59:06

Compass Errors
From USS Patterson underway to Honolulu, November 1913

12/11/1913
At 2pm: Comp Err. 12oE Long 155 30 W
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6407_0.jpg

13/11/1913
4am: Compass error 12oE
2pm: Compass error 11oE
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6408_0.jpg

14/11/1913
5am: Compass error 9oE
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6409_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 24 March 2015, 13:08:15

Compass Errors
From USS Patterson underway to Honolulu, November 1913

16/11/1913
At 9am: Compass Error 9 degrees E
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6411_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 06 April 2015, 14:41:18

Patterson. Honolulu to Unalaska, May 1914

03/05/1914
7 a.m. Comp Er on N 0.5 W Course 12.5 degrees E
3:34 Comp Error on N 0.5 W course 10.2 degrees E
4- Comp Error on N 0.5 W course 10.5 degrees E
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2015%20-%20April%201%20-%20June%2030,%201914/IMG_6502_0.jpg

04/05/1914
6:35 Compass Error 12 degrees E
9:20 Compass Error 13 degrees E
3- Lat 24 18 N 158 16.5 W Comp. Error 11.5 degrees E
4:15 Compass error 11 degrees E
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Finished swinging ship at 6:25.
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2015%20-%20April%201%20-%20June%2030,%201914/IMG_6503_0.jpg

05/05/1914
Compass error 13.6 degrees E at 6:50 a.m.
Compass error 14. degrees E at 4 P.M.
On course N5/8W At 4:56 [p.m.] began to swing ship. Mr Jiacomini observing with dip circle.
6:25 [p.m.] finished swinging ship, steered N1/2W
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2015%20-%20April%201%20-%20June%2030,%201914/IMG_6504_0.jpg & /1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Danny252 on 07 April 2015, 04:20:06

What's the reference to swinging the ship about? I've only heard it in reference to the ship turning/moving when at anchor. It seems like an odd term if it's to do with a course change - they only go from N1/2W to N5/8W, but there's an hour and a half between them!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Maikel on 07 April 2015, 04:33:39

They swing the ship 360^o to determine the compass deviations.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 07 April 2015, 04:43:05

Hi folks - I'm still a little hazy on swinging ships, so I put that comment in just in case it was relevant to the whole compass error business. Is it worth putting in here - or am I confusing things? :-\

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 07 April 2015, 10:14:55

I think that is relevant to the fact that the whole compass deviation was so far out of kilter, it had the officers wanting to re-establish their deviation notes. I would definitely include it.

Danny, a detailed explanation of swinging the ship is in OWPedia. Go to this post (http://forum.oldweather.org/index.php?topic=3209.msg95477#msg95477) and scroll up. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 08 April 2015, 08:43:48

I was just looking at what people were posting, and I suspected that the sometimes daily reports of Compass Errors/Variation of compass/Error of compass/Deviation of compass are not the compass deviations that Chris is looking for.
E.g.,
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Commodore%20perry//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/COMMODORE%20PERRY//vol190/vol190_135_0.jpg
and
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2014/IMG_6404_0.jpg

So, I asked Kevin and Jules:

Quote from: Randi

I understand the importance of changes in compass deviation as an indicator of solar activity - although I thought that those are sudden and temporary. However, I am wondering if Patterson's daily record of compass deviations (by AvastMH and Helen J) is really useful. I thought that was primarily for determining the location and navigating.

Quote from: Kevin

I would tend to agree. Also, these are noted as Compass Error which by definition reflects Variation (difference between true North and mag North) and Deviation (error due to the ship's magnetism normally assessed by swinging the compass on a known range). Both of these are likely far greater in magnitude than deflections caused by a transient magnetic disturbance, and secondly a compass for navigation is usually damped (e.g. liquid filled) so that it doesn't jitter from ships motions/vibrations etc.

Quote from: Jules

I've just caught up with PMs! That's useful information from Kevin. So the standard compass errors are not relevant but the "deviations of the needle" definitely are.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 08 April 2015, 09:08:52

AH - that's interesting! 8) So we only need to look for 'deviations of the needle' or perhaps any specific remarks indicating an abnormal change (the above are clearly expected errors) for the purposes of this thread? :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Danny252 on 08 April 2015, 09:46:19

It did occur to me that those deviations actually seem in line with what you might expect from Hawaii to Unalaska. This chart (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/img/DeclinationMap_NorthAmerica.png) shows that the compass deviation increases quite rapidly if sailing towards Alaska, but that Unalaska actually has a relatively low deviation (Hawaii being just off the map, about a quarter of the way up the left side).

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 08 April 2015, 09:54:12

Good idea to clarify these compass readings! Just to be clear - I've just checked and the movements of the compass needle associated with magnetic disturbances are usually referred to as "deflections of the needle" rather than deviations. These deflections are the ones which are useful to record. There may not be too many of them but they should tell us something about what the sun was doing at the time.

Thanks! :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 08 April 2015, 10:05:24

Thank YOU ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kevin on 08 April 2015, 11:09:03

A considerable amount of coordinated magnetic data was recorded during the First International Polar Year (IPY), with some stations active 1881 through 1884. For those interested I've attached the links below to the website we did as part of the most recent IPY a few years ago, along with images of some of the magnetic observatories that were set up in the Arctic. There are some pictures of aurora (and many more that I didn't scan at the time). I'm not sure what has been done with the magnetic data but there is certainly many thousands of coordinated recordings, and many high temporal resolution 'term day' obs made simultaneously on Gottingen Time (the GMT for mag research in the 19th c.).

I believe the Point Barrow IPY station was active beginning in the autumn of 1881, so would in a sense continue the series begun on the Jeannnette.

http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/aro/ipy-1/
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/aro/ipy-1/Austria-P1.htm
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/aro/ipy-1/images/R-456.jpg
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/aro/ipy-1/images/EL-103-LR.jpg
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/aro/ipy-1/images/NB-XX-L.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 08 April 2015, 14:45:23

Kevin, Solar Stormwatch will love you. :-*

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 08 April 2015, 17:36:52

Awesome! 8) 8) 8) ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 09 April 2015, 07:10:09

Very cool! 8) 8)
So many datasets - so little time! ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 05 June 2015, 06:18:14

I just ran across this ;)

Quote from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26000/26000-h/26000-h.htm#MERRY_DANCERS

MERRY DANCERS. The glancings and coruscations of the aurora borealis, or northern lights.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 23 June 2015, 13:20:00

Martian aurora, high-altitude dust clouds surprise scientists
MAVEN mission data provide insights, provoke questions about Red Planet
By Christopher Crockett
1:00pm, March 19, 2015
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/martian-aurora-high-altitude-dust-clouds-surprise-scientists

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 25 June 2015, 17:25:43

Some local pictures of the Aurora Australis.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/thursday-a-final-chance-to-see-aurora-australis-20150624-ghwn79.html (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/thursday-a-final-chance-to-see-aurora-australis-20150624-ghwn79.html)

They were taken as far north Lat 34S

Cloudy over my place and did not see them.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: propriome on 10 July 2015, 09:51:07

Unalga - 3 May 1923

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Unalga//Volumes/Seagate%20Backup%20Plus%20Drive/Arfon-JPEGS/RG26/UNALGA//b2575/b2575_099_1.jpg
Observed display of northern lights at 11:00

(Last reported ship position: 58 48N , 139 35W at 8:00pm - on weather page)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: leelaht on 25 August 2015, 13:32:21

http://www.seattlepi.com/science/article/Mystery-lights-in-space-could-warn-of-global-6458563.php (http://www.seattlepi.com/science/article/Mystery-lights-in-space-could-warn-of-global-6458563.php)

Article about noctilucent clouds, how they're becoming more common, and could be a sign of global warning. Anyway, they were first sighted in 1885 over polar regions.... so maybe our ships saw some!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 26 August 2015, 06:50:51

Oh no! I have seen them now and then...now I think I hope I won't see them if it's due to the planet over-heating :(

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: HatterJack on 10 September 2015, 02:39:27

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Albatross/vol018of055/vol018of055_019_1.jpg

Despite a few rough weather days, the clouds parted long enough to view a "Bright display of Aurora Borealis" aboard Albatross.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hurlock on 13 September 2015, 02:52:31

3rd September 1895
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Albatross/vol026of055/vol026of055_071_1.jpg
Moon in total eclipse till 8.30, when it began to come out of shadow, entirely clear at 9.35. Aurora Borealis visible at 11.30

Not entirely sure about the word entirely here.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 13 September 2015, 13:21:04

Looking at these last two entries - I'd LOVE to see the aurora one day.

Hurlock - I think that it is 'entirely'. It certainly does make sense within the context too. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hurlock on 13 September 2015, 14:16:27

A few days lated the log keeper uses very similar writing for the En in Enlistment. Case solved - it is 'entirely'

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 13 September 2015, 17:24:44

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hurlock on 18 September 2015, 01:57:03

A week later (10/09/1895) 2am
http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Albatross/vol026of055/vol026of055_078_1.jpg
Bright Aurora Borealis second hour.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kevin on 25 September 2015, 14:31:12

Interesting Eos article on Frederic Church's painting Aurora Borealis:

https://eos.org/features/aurora-painting-pays-tribute-to-civil-wars-end

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 25 September 2015, 15:23:23

Thanks!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Janet Jaguar on 25 September 2015, 15:46:49

That is beautiful. And it fits how bleak both sides of our Civil War were by the end.

Ken Burns' masterpiece series, The Civil War, was brought out by PBS this month after being completely remastered. Burns had used real high-quality movie film thru-out, but the digital version for TV came in the fuzzy format of pre-HD TV. They went back to the film for its 25th anniversary, and made a new master using the full width and HD. I forgot how really deep that show reaches in me.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Kevin on 25 September 2015, 16:51:14

Yes... If you ever have a chance to visit Antietam during the annual memorial illumination it is awe inspiring.
http://www.nps.gov/anti/planyourvisit/luminary.htm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/darrenbarnes/5771701192

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 05 November 2015, 15:31:58

Quote from: http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Albatross/vol026of055/vol026of055_071_1.jpg

Aurora Borealis visible at 11:30

Albatross

3 Sept 1895

Noon observed position: 56 29 N, 153 40 W

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 05 November 2015, 16:17:16

Quote from: HatterJack on 05 November 2015, 06:35:30

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/Albatross/vol026of055/vol026of055_071_1.jpg

8PM to Midnight

Moon in total eclipse until 8:30

Followed by an aurora

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 19 February 2016, 15:49:26

Quote from: HatterJack on 19 February 2016, 07:15:01

http://classic.oldweather.org/transcribe/522f930868f4b84c29000003

Bright aurora borealis during second hour aboard the Albatross

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 03 April 2016, 12:31:09

Quote from: Bob on 31 March 2016, 07:21:34

USS Jamestown
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
August 16, 1858

From 8 to Mid. Calm + clear. During the watch a partial appearance of the Aurora Borealis.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jamestown/vol011of067/vol011of067_126_0.jpg (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jamestown/vol011of067/vol011of067_126_0.jpg)

Quote from: Bob on 01 April 2016, 09:50:22

USS Jamestown
August 25, 1858
Portsmouth, New Hampshire

From 8 to Mid

From 9 to 11 Aurora borealis visible, presenting a soft + nebulous light of a yellowish hue.

(Portsmouth, NH, is at about the same latitude as Rome, Italy)

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USS%20Jamestown/vol011of067/vol011of067_130_1.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 04 April 2016, 08:55:12

Quote from: Danny252 on 04 April 2016, 08:44:35

There is a 6-page article by Julia Wilkinson, Chris Scott and David Willis in the Royal Astronomical Society's magazine Astronomy and Geophysics (Vol 57, Issue 2, Page 36), entitled "Going with the floe". It discusses the Jeannette aurora and galvanometer measurements mentioned in Randi's quote, with many mentions and links to Old Weather, Naval History .net, and the Zooniverse. An interesting read!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 04 April 2016, 11:32:56

Thanks for posting that Randi - I was locked out of the forum and have just made it back in! Yes, the Jeannette article has finally been published. Hooray!! The original article was even longer but the RAS have done an OK job editing it to fit the journal. Chris Scott is hoping to put a free to access link on his university's website but meanwhile for those who have access here is the official link (http://astrogeo.oxfordjournals.org/content/current). Huge thanks again to everyone who posted observations. We're hoping to use the remaining observations too so I am keeping an eye on this thread. If you find any more mentions of aurora sightings - please keep posting them here. Thanks! :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 04 April 2016, 16:27:24

Congrats on the article, Jules. I look forward to reading it one day.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 13 April 2016, 12:08:55

And finally!!!
Here's my blog The USS Jeannette: Arctic explorer and Space Weather pioneer (https://blog.oldweather.org/2016/04/13/the-uss-jeannette-arctic-explorer-and-space-weather-pioneer/) - with a FREE link to the article. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 13 April 2016, 12:20:02

Thank you!!!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 13 April 2016, 17:05:23

Great article jules - really enjoyed it ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 26 July 2016, 12:32:38

USCGS Patterson
Barlow Cove, Alaska (58.36N 134.89N)
10 September 1890

Code: [Select]

Brilliant display of aurora borrealis.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Dean on 30 July 2016, 14:12:05

Quote from: jules on 13 April 2016, 12:08:55

And finally!!!
Here's my blog The USS Jeannette: Arctic explorer and Space Weather pioneer (https://blog.oldweather.org/2016/04/13/the-uss-jeannette-arctic-explorer-and-space-weather-pioneer/) - with a FREE link to the article. :D

Outstanding, Magnificent, Wonderful,....! ;)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 29 August 2016, 16:08:02

USCGS Patterson 28 Sept 1892 off Alert Bay, BC, Canada. 8 PM to Midnight (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ow3/final/USCS%20Patterson/Book%2053/IMG_9782_1.jpg):

Quote

Clear bright starlight, brilliant ?Northern Lights.?

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: leelaht on 19 November 2016, 19:09:07

Thetis March 1, 1908
55 38 30N, 135 28 00W

8pm to midnight
Aurora Borealis occured at intervals during the watch.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 11 February 2017, 09:09:32

Just a quick update on the ships' logs / aurora project. I was invited to give a presentation at yesterday's specialist meeting at the Royal Astronomical Society on "Understanding the Space Environment Before the Space Age". My talk was a summary of the Jeannette aurora observations with some plots and graphs, It seemed to go down well (thank goodness!) I answered lots of questions afterwards about Old Weather and the transcription process and the dates of the voyages and other ships on the site etc. I've put a summary of my talk and slides here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8jknIfeZHqGenFRZUJyZ0N1RWM/view?usp=sharing).

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 11 February 2017, 09:18:22

Wonderful!
Thanks, jules!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Bob on 11 February 2017, 10:37:25

Quote from: jules on 11 February 2017, 09:09:32

I've put a summary of my talk and slides here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8jknIfeZHqGenFRZUJyZ0N1RWM/view?usp=sharing).

Thanks for posting! It's a fascinating topic, and great to see how the work on OldWeather gets put to use. 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Caro on 11 February 2017, 16:31:12

Thanks Jules. Well done. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 11 February 2017, 17:55:39

Oh nice!! Thank you Jules. :D
(John Fairweather (didn't manage to get there in the end) told me that you'd spoken at the RAS/Astrofest.)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Dean on 12 February 2017, 15:05:02

Waaaaay Coooool! Nice job, Jules. ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Maikel on 13 February 2017, 09:41:33

Thanks Jules.
Lovely to see a Journey Plotter map has featured at the Royal Astronomical Society. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 06 June 2017, 15:08:44

The 'Bear'. Wednesday September 9th 1914.
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23695631/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b355/Bear-b355_0309.JPG

Location at 8 a.m: Herald Island is WNW - 10 miles.

Mid.- 4a.m.
Observed light bands of the aurora borealis extending from NW'd to the zenith.

(http://i.imgur.com/Xo5qAEh.png?1)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 06 June 2017, 18:58:03

8)

Subtype Aurorae ?
;)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hanibal94 on 14 January 2018, 04:25:08

Burton Island, 7th September 1954:
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/12103974/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/594258-navy-deck-logs/00003/burton-island-agb-1-1954-09/burton-island-agb-1-1954-09-0026.jpg

0040 - At this time, noticed a very bright aurora borealis.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 14 January 2018, 08:59:04

Thanks, Hanibal!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hurlock on 05 February 2018, 12:37:47

USS Bear 12th July 1884 59.4N 54.5 W
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6919159 page 122
Fine display of Aurora Borealis last hour

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 09 February 2018, 18:02:06

Storis 20-09-1944.

20-24 Observed Aurora Borealis display throughout latter part of watch.

(General location was 2000hrs, 76 03N, 17 37W.)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 09 February 2018, 18:11:26

Thanks!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 13 June 2018, 01:36:48

Eastwind. 04 May 1952. 2000hrs, 52 30N, 54 35W

Northern Lights seen

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 22 June 2018, 22:24:02

Eastwind 14 Sept 1952. 16-20hrs, (2000hrs location 57-16N, 55,29W)

Observed Aurora Borealis this watch.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 28 June 2018, 03:28:13

Eastwind 2202hrs, 30 Aug 1953. (2000hr location 52-58N, 54-49W)

Observed Aurora Borealis.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jd570b on 19 July 2018, 17:01:10

Bear 1892-09-01
Arctic Ocean

Mid. to 4 AM
First hour aurora borealis visible.

(General location of 66 49 00 N 167 50 15 W)

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919215/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol072/26-159A-bear-vol072_137.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 19 July 2018, 20:45:59

Thanks!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Vibia on 30 July 2018, 14:52:02

The Bear 1892-05-18

During the Midnight to 4AM watch: "12 to 12.25 Aurora Borealis visible."

Noon observed position: 52 12 29 N
145 27 15 W

Page Link: https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919215/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol072/26-159A-bear-vol072_027.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 30 July 2018, 14:53:53

Thanks!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 30 July 2018, 14:56:59

Here is a report from before we started this collection:

Quote from: Zovacor on 20 March 2011, 14:06:20

Observed Brilliant display of Aurora Borealis

Feb. 14, 1917, Moldavia. E of Iceland.

http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM_53-49766/ADM%2053-49766-010_0.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jd570b on 11 September 2018, 19:27:08

Revenue Cutter Bear
1899-08-29
Cape Blossom

10:30 PM

Quote

noted -display of northern lights.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919225/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol081/26-159A-bear-vol081_123.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jd570b on 24 September 2018, 16:08:58

Revenue Cutter Bear
1899-09-16
Bering Sea

Midt to 4AM

Quote

Brilliant Northern lights

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919225/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol081/26-159A-bear-vol081_141.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 24 September 2018, 18:53:19

Thanks!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 25 September 2018, 05:22:49

Hi everyone,

Thanks everyone for continuing to note mentions of the aurora in the ships' logs. These historical observations are very valuable and it's just great that you keep finding more. I am still working with some aurora researchers on a couple of papers and, interestingly, have had several enquiries from other researchers about whether the logs show sightings on a particular date so this Old Weather resource is certainly being used. My spreadsheet is getting impressively large!

The latest paper has just been submitted for publication. This is about the 1917 naked eye sunspot sighting from HMS Hillary and includes some Chinese records of the same event. I'll post details once it is published - hopefully with a free link.

Meanwhile, please keep posting any sightings of the aurora you come across in the logs and also any mentions of being able to see sunspots - though these are likely to be rare. I've learned that academic papers take a long time to complete - but rest assured your forum posts are incredibly useful.

I love Old Weather!
Jules

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 25 September 2018, 15:54:47

That's super news Jules! It's so cool to see how far those logs go with modern science.

'I love Old Weather!' - you surely are not alone there ;) ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jd570b on 28 September 2018, 12:37:16

Revenue Cutter Bear
1899-09-26
Bering Sea

Midt to 4AM

Quote

Brilliant display of Northern Lights.

8PM to Midt

Quote

Clear and cool, moonlight and Northern Lights.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919225/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol081/26-159A-bear-vol081_151.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 28 September 2018, 12:45:39

Quote from: jules on 25 September 2018, 05:22:49

have had several enquiries from other researchers about whether the logs show sightings on a particular date

Feel free to post those dates here!
There will probably be someone crazy enough to check a few logs ::)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 01 October 2018, 18:25:14

Quote

Feel free to post those dates here!
There will probably be someone crazy enough to check a few logs ::)

Well, some of the dates I've been asked about unfortunately pre-date the Old Weather ships. I've had enquiries about aurora in the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century and the ships' logs don't go back that far. Luckily Science Gossip came to the rescue as some of the journals contain very detailed accounts of aurora in the 1830s so I was able to help there.

The only date outstanding at the moment is 18th of October 1841. Apparently, the 10.5 PM train between Starcross and Exeter (in the UK) was delayed by 16 minutes on that day, due to a very intense magnetic disturbance. This is the first recorded impact of space weather on civilisation and a geomagnetic disturbance is often accompanied by auroral activity and might cause deflections of the compass needle. I haven't been keeping up with all the different Old Weather projects so I'm not sure what dates are currently covered. So - if any ships' logs go back that far and you find something interesting within a few days either side of 18 October 1841 do let me know! :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 01 October 2018, 18:57:22

:'( :'( :'(

I am afraid that at the moment our oldest is Jamestown 1844 - 1888(?)

We have a few starting about 1880.

I'm not sure about the whalers.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 02 October 2018, 16:22:16

Hello Jules! The whalers go back a loooooong way. Sadly we've only been back to about 1885 on OWW. Some log keepers note such events, and some mention virtually nothing.

I checked the NewBedford Museum site: https://www.whalingmuseum.org/explore/library/logbooks-journals
I downloaded their database of logs and they stretch back to the 1600's. There are about 50+ (at a very quick glance) covering that date) Not all of these ships logs are digitized though.

The Digitized Logbooks mentioned on the page above: some logbooks in the Library?s collection have been digitized, but not every logbook in the Library?s vast collection is available in a digital version. If you would like to see a digital copy of one of the Library?s logbooks, please contact Mark Procknik (mprocknik@whalingmuseum.org) for further details. NOTE: The detailed descriptions hyperlinked on all logbooks below are currently under construction.
The earliest log on that list is ODHS 385A: Fortune (Bark), 1847 ? 1850

I was wondering if the problems caused to navigation might realise an additional number of shipping losses that day. I don't know how the weather was - that could just as equally be the root cause of a lot of losses.

Might there be any particular reports by Ports? :-\

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 02 October 2018, 19:11:51

Well that's interesting! Thanks for the info AvastMH I'll take a look at that link. I don't have any more details for this particular date and I suspect the researcher may have moved on by now as I received the query some time ago. It's always good to have additional sources though so I do keep an eye out. The whaling ships sound promising. If I get any more queries about historical aurorae I'll nip over and let you know! I did transcribe a few whaling logs a while ago. I should really go back!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 03 October 2018, 18:40:12

I'll have a hunt around too :D

The shipyard list of log books that we've covered is on Panoptes: https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/zooniverse/old-weather/talk/157/11800
If you go to the Questions and Comments page you will find links to the log book, simply increase the number at the end of the address to move through the pages. I just noticed that Albion is in 1855.

More to follow :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Pommy Stuart on 06 October 2018, 19:16:53

12 July 1884, Bear.
59 39 48N, 54 50 15W.
8pm-mid
Fine display of Aurora Borealis last hour

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jd570b on 21 October 2018, 20:07:35

Revenue Cutter Bear
1899-10-22
Gulf of Alaska

8 PM to Midt

Quote

Clear bright moonlight. Display of northern Lights.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919225/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol081/26-159A-bear-vol081_177.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 27 October 2018, 13:01:56

Thetis
1889-11-21
Security Bay, Alaska (56.83806, -134.3275)

8 PM to Mid

Quote from: https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7284502/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-024/581208-noaa/118/thetis/vol009of024/24-118-thetis-vol009_121.jpg

Slight display of Aurora Borealis bearing NW.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 27 October 2018, 16:46:30

Here is a debate: Are the Northern Lights overrated? (https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thedebaters/oct-27-2018-northern-lights-the-dump-1.4879083/the-northern-lights-are-overrated-1.4879086)

The debate is about 12 minutes long. It's scientific ::) and very worthwhile unless you're from Manitoba. ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 19 November 2018, 15:02:54

Thetis 11 September 1901 8pm-Mid

Quote

Display of northern lights

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7284552/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/159a/thetis/vol597/26-159A-thetis-vol597_080.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 20 November 2018, 13:28:56

Quote from: mapurves on 27 October 2018, 16:46:30

Here is a debate: Are the Northern Lights overrated? (https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thedebaters/oct-27-2018-northern-lights-the-dump-1.4879083/the-northern-lights-are-overrated-1.4879086)

The debate is about 12 minutes long. It's scientific ::) and very worthwhile unless you're from Manitoba. ;D ;D ;D

I had a real good chortle at this one Michael. Great piece of comedy. ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 11 December 2018, 12:46:42

Off Point Barrow
27 August 1889
Location: 71.37N, 56.56W (Magnetic Declination 35 degrees)

Quote

At 1150 PM observed an aurora in the shape of a narrow arch of pale green light bearing from E.S.E. (p.c.) to W.S.W. (p.c.) and about 15 degrees high at the center, lasting about 3 minutes.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7284502/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-024/581208-noaa/118/thetis/vol009of024/24-118-thetis-vol009_035.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 11 December 2018, 13:04:42

Off Point Barrow
28 August 1889
Location: 71.37N, 56.56W (Magnetic Declination 35 degrees)

Quote

From 1210 AM to 1250 a display of Aurora Borialis took place at frequent intervals, and consisted of a series of arches of narrow bands of light to southward of ship, of altitudes from 15o to 60o extending in an East and West direction per compass. Light of pale straw color. At 1250 the Eastern end of upper arch broadened into a wide arch of drifting light, and the arch was rainbow colored from straw to dark red.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 11 December 2018, 14:42:44

08 September 1889
Near 71.12N 175.81W
Magnetic Declination 21 degrees

Quote

At 10 p.m. a brilliant display of Aurora Borealis began which continued during rest of watch. Brilliant bands of light, in a general East & West (p.c.) direction passing overhead from North to South (p.c.) hanging like curtains overhead and full of drifting shafts of light, at 11 p.m. a bright display overhead occurred. The light shifting from crimson to light green and extending in shafts from zenith towards horizon.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7284502/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-024/581208-noaa/118/thetis/vol009of024/24-118-thetis-vol009_047.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 11 December 2018, 14:50:04

09 September 1889
Near 69.74W 171.24W
Magnetic Declination 22 degrees

Quote

From 930 p.m. until 1030 observed Aurora Borealis. Display very slight, on account of fog, excepting at 1010 when a brilliant display took place, lasting about three minutes. It was in the shape of a broad band of scintillating light, combining most of the colors of the rainbow and stretching in an arch from East (p.c.) to N.W.(p.c.) about 15o high a its center.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 12 December 2018, 12:25:25

Thanks @mapurves! I have added these to the collection. There was clearly a good start to the winter 1889 aurora season!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Dean on 23 December 2018, 20:02:22

14 May 1921
HMS Valerian - Bermuda to St. John's New Brunswick
Lat 44.6, Long -66.4

1.00am: Aurora Borealis visible.

https://s3.amazonaws.com:443/oldweather/ADM53-88502/010_0.jpg)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 24 December 2018, 08:04:03

Quote from: Dean on 23 December 2018, 20:02:22

14 May 1921
HMS Valerian - Bermuda to St. John's New Brunswick
Lat 44.6, Long 66.4

1.00am: Aurora Borealis visible.

https://s3.amazonaws.com:443/oldweather/ADM53-88502/010_0.jpg)

At Lat 44.6 that must have been some solar storm! :o
So I did a quick search on the internet and came up with plenty of references to the: Low-latitude auroras: the magnetic storm of 14 / 15 May 1921, by S.M. Silverman & E.W. Cliver (https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=usafresearch)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Dean on 26 December 2018, 09:56:31

Thanks Joan! Quite an article.

I DO, however, need to get it in the right Hemisphere!!!!!!

I missed the minus (-) before the Longitude!! It was 66 WEST therefore -66.4!! ::)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 29 January 2019, 19:27:41

Eastwind 03 September 1953 (https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/24339923/content/dc-metro/rg-026/559642/0001-A1/Eastwind-WAG-279-1953/Eastwind-WAG-279-1953_0487.JPG) approximately 43.52N 59.01W

2054 Observed Aurora Borealis.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 06 February 2019, 22:16:34

Earth?s auroras, popularly known as the Northern and Southern Lights, are indisputably beautiful. They are also, perhaps surprisingly, not mirror images. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/science/northern-lights-southern-lights.html?emc=edit_ne_20190206&nl=evening-briefing&nlid=7926703920190206&te=1)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 07 February 2019, 19:20:31

Friday, September 11, 1908 (https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7284570/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/159a/thetis/vol614/26-159A-thetis-vol614_080.jpg)
8 PM to Midnight
Lat. 63.63
Long. -168.35

Brilliant display of aurora latter part of watch.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hurlock on 09 February 2019, 02:53:16

Bear 1913 September 7th Nome Roadstead
22:00
Northern lights showing very distinctly. A semi-circle of light about 3' wide extended from magnetic East to West passing overhead a little South of our zenith.

Link added
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919264/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol108/26-159A-bear-vol108_075.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 18 February 2019, 11:11:26

Just popping in to update my spreadsheet! Thanks everyone . :)
And if you can include a link to the relevant logbook page that would be even better!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 18 February 2019, 12:37:27

Notes Jules - we'll keep an eye out for the page links for you :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 19 February 2019, 18:13:12

Thanks AvastMH - that's very helpful! It's so useful to be able to look at (and quote) the original source.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 23 February 2019, 15:19:31

USS Bear Friday, 21 September 1900 (https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/6919226/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/bear/vol082/26-159A-bear-vol082_155.jpg).

Midnight to 4 AM Aurora Borealis NNE to NNW.

Position: 64.36 -164.52

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 12 March 2019, 09:10:56

Really old space weather ;)
One of the strongest known solar storms blasted Earth in 660 B.C. (https://www.sciencenews.org/article/one-strongest-known-solar-storms-blasted-earth-660-bc?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=latest-newsletter-v2)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 12 March 2019, 09:55:15

8) 8) 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 12 March 2019, 15:32:11

8) 8) 8) :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hanibal94 on 14 April 2019, 10:46:52

Bear, September 9th 1914, 1:20 AM
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23695631/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b355/Bear-b355_0309.JPG

Quote

Observed bright bands of the aurora borealis extending from the NW'd to the zenith.

EDIT: I have heard that we should include the Noon Location when posting these.
In this case, it is 70 49 N, 174 5 W, D.R.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 14 April 2019, 15:49:06

:) :) :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 14 April 2019, 16:59:41

:) :) :) :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 15 April 2019, 11:03:01

Couldn't find a smiley for 'truly jealous' so...

:) :) :) :) :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 31 May 2019, 10:00:50

Hello again!
The historical aurora research is still going strong and we have a new date for you to look out for! There was a huge geomagnetic storm on the 17 - 18 September 1941. If you come across any references to sightings of the aurora, radio blackouts etc on these dates please flag them up here. I have checked the National Archives site for some of the OW ships sailing at this time with no luck so far. Auroral displays were reported from as low as 41 degrees latitude and it would be interesting to see if there were any sightings further south. That said any mentions of the aurora at all around these dates would be of interest.

Thanks everyone!
(I see you've moved back in here!)
Jules

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 01 July 2019, 19:26:01

USS Rodgers, Sept 8, 1881. Location: 70.98, -178.42

Quote

At 11 P.M. very brilliant display of Northern light covering the Entire heavens. The effect of it could be noticed on the Declinometer. Brightest of Northern light was in the Sd & Nd.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0106.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 02 July 2019, 07:29:34

Quote from: Michael on 01 July 2019, 19:26:01

USS Rodgers, Sept 8, 1881. Location: 70.98, -178.42

Quote
At 11 P.M. very brilliant display of Northern light covering the Entire heavens. The effect of it could be noticed on the Declinometer. Brightest of Northern light was in the Sd & Nd.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0106.JPG

Oh those lovely descriptions written by the Poets of the Rodgers... :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 02 July 2019, 13:41:26

Rodgers. 18 September 1881. At noon she was 73^o 12'N. No longitude, but it would have been around 178 - 174W. (She's not very big on letting me know where she is, but she's been north of Herald Island.)

Quote

11 PM to 12 AM. Very changeable, at interval light rain snowing and misty - occasionally lighting up, stars coming out very bright overhead, but misty around horizon very brilliant display of Northern light - brightest in thin Str. It would extend across the Entire heavens, in a broad shape, changing its form very rapidly. Then suddenly shoot off in every direction, so bright as to have the appearance of day breaking.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0116.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 02 July 2019, 14:03:17

Rodgers. 22 September 1881
8PM to Midnight
At 10:30 lost sight of NE Cape of Wrangel Island. (Best I can do for a location)

Quote

Brilliant aurora last hour.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0120.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 02 July 2019, 14:18:15

Rodgers. 24 September 1881. (Somewhere) ;D

8 to Midnight
Clear over head at intervals. Brilliant display of Aurora.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0122.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 02 July 2019, 14:41:19

Rodgers. 25 September 1881. Somewhere.
8 to Midnight
Brilliant Aurora.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0123.JPG

And just when I thought that familiarity breeds contempt...

Rodgers 26 September. (Somewhere else)
Commencing and until 4 AM
Remarkable bright star light and intensely brilliant and active Aurora. The Aurora was the most brilliant and altogether the most remarkable I have yet seen, Arranged in thin consecutive area Extending from E to W across the entire heavens. It would occasionally burst into still brighter luminosity and then these arcs ~~~~, would form one broad belt of light heaving and tossing like the sea in a gale. The morning star seam to be affected by it in appearance, showing a bright perpendicular line drawn through its center and extending through upwards of a degree above and below.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0124.JPG

At 0530 he can see Wrangel Island on his Starboard bow, and Herald Island on his port bow, so he's somewhere around 71.5N 176.5W.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 02 July 2019, 15:15:06

Rodgers. 30 September 1881

Without doing all the calculations, I estimate he's about 40 miles S of Herald Island.

Midnight to 4 AM

Quote

Bright display of Northern Lights during watch, brightest between 2 & 3 a.m.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0128.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hurlock on 02 July 2019, 15:19:03

Quote from: Michael on 02 July 2019, 14:41:19

Rodgers. 25 September 1881. Somewhere.
8 to Midnight
Brilliant Aurora.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0123.JPG

And just when I thought that familiarity breeds contempt...

Rodgers 26 September. (Somewhere else)
Commencing and until 4 AM
Remarkable bright star light and intensely brilliant and active Aurora. The Aurora was the most brilliant and altogether the most remarkable I have yet seen, Arranged in thin consecutive area Extending from E to W across the entire heavens. It would occasionally burst into still brighter luminosity and then these arcs ~~~~, would form one broad belt of light heaving and tossing like the sea in a gale. The morning star seam to be affected by it in appearance, showing a bright perpendicular line drawn through its center and extending through upwards of a degree above and below.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0124.JPG

At 0530 he can see Wrangel Island on his Starboard bow, and Herald Island on his port bow, so he's somewhere around 71.5N 176.5W.

I think it is 'arcs uniteing'

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 02 July 2019, 17:07:50

I'm sure that you are right Hurlock - 'uniting' is that odd word. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 02 July 2019, 17:45:54

Quote from: AvastMH on 02 July 2019, 17:07:50

I'm sure that you are right Hurlock - 'uniting' is that odd word. :D

Me, too! Thanks...

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 03 July 2019, 14:57:53

Rodgers, October 1, 1881
8PM to Midnight

Quote

Clear overhead, snowing at intervals - Aurora to Nd & Ed.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0129.JPG

October 3

Quote

Between 2 and 3 AM bright display of Northern Light.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0131.JPG

October 5
He's a bit vague on his position, but I think he's anchored near here: 67.04, -173.03

8 to Midnight

Quote

Bright Moonlight & starlight Aurora to Nd.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0133.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 03 July 2019, 18:37:05

He was certainly scooting around that area of coastline because the Jeannette had proposed working up that side of the Behring and Chukchi seas to get to the Arctic. :)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 03 July 2019, 19:07:01

Quote from: AvastMH on 03 July 2019, 18:37:05

He was certainly scooting around that area of coastline because the Jeannette had proposed working up that side of the Behring and Chukchi seas to get to the Arctic. :)

That's who we were looking for. We found a cairn left by Corwin on the northern part of Herald Island in August of that year, but no sign of the Jeannette or anything left by her. We ran into quite a number of whalers though. ::)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 03 July 2019, 20:14:24

Rodgers 27 October, 1881, 65.64, -170.87

8 to Midnight

Quote

Very brilliant display of the Aurora visible form NWbyN to NEbyN. Brightest portion NNW.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0155.JPG

28 October, same location
Commences and until 4 AM

Quote

Bright display of the Aurora from NWbyN to NEbyE.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0156.JPG

29 October, same location.

Quote

At 1:15 brilliant Aurora began

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0157.JPG

Oct 30. Same location.
Commences and until 4 AM

Quote

Display of Aurora.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0158.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 04 July 2019, 07:25:05

Quote from: Michael on 03 July 2019, 19:07:01

Quote from: AvastMH on 03 July 2019, 18:37:05
He was certainly scooting around that area of coastline because the Jeannette had proposed working up that side of the Behring and Chukchi seas to get to the Arctic. :)

That's who we were looking for. We found a cairn left by Corwin on the northern part of Herald Island in August of that year, but no sign of the Jeannette or anything left by her. We ran into quite a number of whalers though. ::)

It was the Corwin which pretty much first rescued the crew of the Rodgers after they burnt down. First ship to collect a 'rescue us please' note from the local inuit was a whaler - The North Star (we are working on their log right now) who handed the job over to Corwin - I love how things string together with these ships!! :D :D :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 04 July 2019, 10:08:59

Quote from: AvastMH on 04 July 2019, 07:25:05

I love how things string together with these ships!! :D :D :D

Me too!

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 04 July 2019, 11:15:57

Rodgers, 21 November, 1881
65.64, -170.87

Commences and until 4 AM

Quote

Display of Aurora during the watch - not very bright.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0180.JPG

23 November, 1881
65.64, -170.87

8 to Midnight

Quote

Overcast and threatening - Snowing first two hours - very brilliant and grand display of the Aurora. the brightest part in N.W. The light extended from E. to W. by the N. and to the zenith - The light was so bright at times that objects could be seen at some distance more distinctly than durng the brightest moonlight - the stars were particularly bright - The light would pass over the heavens like waves, the outer edges of which were of dark blue color it would then run into each other like waves seen in shoal water.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0182.JPG

24 November, 1881
65.64, -170.87

Commences and until 4 A.M.

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Display of Aurora but not so bright as previous watch - but in same direction & same form.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0183.JPG

26 November, 1881
65.64, -170.87

8 to Midnight

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Display of Aurora

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23665858/content/dc-metro/rg-024/581208/0002/Rodgers-b001of10/Rodgers-b001of10_0185.JPG

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: jules on 04 July 2019, 15:28:12

These aurora reports are brilliant! Thank you so much! :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Hurlock on 08 August 2019, 01:32:40

Northland 4th September 1927 8pm location 59'37N, 149'31W
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7329654/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/159a/northland/b1708/26-159a-northland-b1708_046.jpg

8pm-Midnight

Northern lights very bright during first part of watch.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 12 September 2019, 22:34:40

From Stargazing in a War Zone: Veterans on Natural Beauty in Dangerous Places (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/magazine/stargazing-war-zone.html)

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I Could Actually Hear the Aurora Borealis -- Dale Lankford, Coast Guard, 1983-1987

I was on an icebreaker based in Seattle. And on my second patrol, we went up to the western Arctic. About 40 miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, we were parked in the ice for a bit. As a boatswain's mate I was making my hourly rounds, and as I got up to the flight deck, I looked up and could see the Northern Lights starting to materialize. They probably formed in just a couple of minutes, and looked like layers of wavy curtains or drapes -- just like three or four layers. The colors were anything from green to yellow to orange, undulating in the curtains and moving up and down in the curtains too. As the curtains went directly overhead, it looked like a starburst -- like you'd see in a sci-fi movie -- the colors were spraying out in every direction. Because the ship was shut down, it was dead quiet, and I realized I could actually hear the aurora borealis. It sounded like a light wind. As the lights passed us, they continued moving and went back to the wavy-curtain form. Then they kind of dissipated and went out the same way they came in. It was kind of like a religious experience, seeing it for the first time. For about 10 or 15 minutes, I was alone there. After I told my buddies inside what had happened, they started making announcements over the ship?s loudspeakers whenever a watch-stander spotted the Northern Lights, then everyone would run outside to look at them too.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 13 September 2019, 12:27:42

They are right at the top of my bucket list. To be able to hear them too - what a fantastic experience. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 13 September 2019, 12:42:01

I've seen them lots of times. I can't swear that I heard them though.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 13 September 2019, 12:43:01

Quote from: Michael on 13 September 2019, 12:42:01

I've seen them lots of times. I can't swear that I heard them though.

I am SO jealous! 8) 8) 8)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 15 September 2019, 19:45:08

04 September 1927
59 37N 149 31W
2038. Northern lights very bright during first part of watch.

https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/7329654/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/rg-026/585454-noaa/159a/northland/b1708/26-159a-northland-b1708_046.jpg

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 03 October 2019, 12:05:55

(https://cloudappreciationsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Kevin-Schafer.jpg)
The Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights over Yellowknife, Canada.
Copyright Kevin Schafer (https://cloudappreciationsociety.org/gallery/)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 03 October 2019, 14:16:36

Aurora Borealis over Whitehorse, Yukon

(https://i.imgur.com/0Y526JZ.jpg)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 03 October 2019, 19:18:04

It's probably top of my bucket list - I'd so love to see the aurora. :D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 24 October 2019, 17:54:24

Bear On September 13, 1922 they saw "Remarkable Northern lights" (last watch):
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23698688/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b361-1922/Bear-b361-1922_0517.JPG

EDIT: And on the first watch of the next day too:
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/23698688/content/dc-metro/rg-026/585454/0002/Bear-b361-1922/Bear-b361-1922_0519.JPG

They were somewhere near 64 58N and 168 00W.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Michael on 07 December 2019, 18:52:26

From the Jeannette, 2 September 1879.

Location 68.5517 -175.9318

At 2:30 there was a moderate display of the Aurora Borealis which lasted about 10 minutes and was under the Constellation Cassiopea.

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Randi on 09 February 2020, 22:15:46

Here are 5 of the weirdest auroras, including the newly spotted 'dunes'
Ever heard of a black aurora? Or a pulsating aurora? (https://www.sciencenews.org/article/auroras-dunes-pulsating-cusp-steve?utm_source=Editors_Picks&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorspicks020920)

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: Dean on 12 February 2020, 17:52:20

Quote from: Randi on 09 February 2020, 22:15:46

Here are 5 of the weirdest auroras, including the newly spotted 'dunes'
Ever heard of a black aurora? Or a pulsating aurora? (https://www.sciencenews.org/article/auroras-dunes-pulsating-cusp-steve?utm_source=Editors_Picks&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorspicks020920)

;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Old Space Weather: sightings of aurorae and sunspots
Post by: AvastMH on 12 February 2020, 18:05:40

Quote from: Randi on 09 February 2020, 22:15:46

Here are 5 of the weirdest auroras, including the newly spotted 'dunes'
Ever heard of a black aurora? Or a pulsating aurora? (https://www.sciencenews.org/article/auroras-dunes-pulsating-cusp-steve?utm_source=Editors_Picks&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorspicks020920)

Those were amazing - I loved the dunes especially :D Still on my bucket list.... ;)

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Home Port: Welcome to Old Weather => The Science: What You're Doing This For => Topic started by: Caro on 30 October 2010, 02:40:50