SKIES OVER NORTH America turned green for St. Patrick’s Day, according to www.spaceweather.com.
As predicted, a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun hit the Earth “during the early hours of March 17, sparking auroras in the United States at least as far south as Colorado.
“More auroras are possible tonight, mainly over the Arctic, as Earth’s magnetic field continues to reverberate from the impact. Check http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.”
Clouds across the North Olympic Peninsula probably kept any locals from seeing an aurora before dawn this morning — but let us know in the Comments section below if you did see anything in our northern skies. Better yet, did you take any photos?
Clouds and rain have also kept sky watchers with binoculars and telescopes from seeing Pan-STAARSS, a comet in the western sky.
But, says www.spaceweather, com, in cloudless areas across the U.S. “a growing number of people are reporting that they can now see Comet Pan-STARRS with the naked eye.
“Best estimates place the magnitude of the comet at +0.2, about twice as bright as a 1st magnitude star.
“As the comet moves away from the sun, its visibility is improving, which means you might be able to see it in the nights ahead.
“Step outside about an hour after sunset and look west.”
There’s are also sky maps available at www.spaceweather.com.
