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Aurora in Slovenia November 7/8 - 9/10, 2004
In the first ten days of November, a large and complex active region AR 10696
produced a series of M and X class flares, the effects of which caused a
prolonged period of high geomagnetic actvity. Polar lights were seen at many
mid-latitude locations.
Between November 7th and 10th no less than six CMEs
impacted the Earth's magnetic field. Two of these contained strong
southward oriented magnetic fields, favourable for intense geomagnetic
activity. The first impacted on Nov 7 at 19h UT. Geomagnetic activity
quickly intensified and by
local midnight (23h UT) reached Kp 9. Just past midnight, several sightings of
aurora were made from Slovenia. Estimated level of activity was low, with aurora
as a diffuse red glow reaching 15 degrees high. Peak activity with A index 400
was reached at 7h UT, favouring North America. Thereafter activity declined
slowly.
By nightfall in Europe the geomagnetic field had settled down
considerably. By local midnight activity picked up again, reaching minor storm
levels. One sighting of low auroral acitivty was reported from Slovenia.
Around noon on Nov 9 another, much lesser CME impacted. This prolonged the activity.
Around 18h UT another, strong CME impacted, with very strong southward IMF.
Activity reintensified, with Kp 8 being reached before midnight. MBK Team
observed low auroral activity during this interval. Peak activity with A index
400 was reached at 10h UT, again favouring the North American continent.
Activity slowly declined, with active to major storm conditions persisting for
two more days, as effect of another weak CME impact. No further sightings from
Slovenia were made.
November 7/8, 2004
Photographs from Zirje near Sezana, Slovenia (N45.71, E13.92)
by Marko Korosec using Canon EOS 300D digital camera
using 18-55 mm lens set at 18 mm
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00:08 UT .. 86 sec
f/4, ISO 800
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00:14 UT .. 117 sec
f/3.5, ISO 800
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00:20 UT .. 143 sec
f/3.5, ISO 400
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Photographs from Vodice, Slovenia (N46.19, E14.50)
by Gregor Vertacnik using 35-mm lens and Kodak 200 film
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00:00 UT .. 60 sec
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Location: Vodice (N46.19,E14.50)
UTC Time and Date: 8.11.2004 - 00:00 (15 minutes)
Observer: Gregor Vertacnik
Light pollution: moderate
Cloudiness: 0%
Auroral activity: very low
Elevation of activity: 10-15 degrees
Types of activity:
(diffuse glow)
Comments: I first checked for aurora at 23h UT, but nothing
was seen. At 0h UT I saw a diffuse glow up to about 10 degrees
over Krvavec ski resort. The glow expanded towards the East
and covered more than 30 degrees in azimuth and reached
10-15 degrees high. Under the glow there was a darker band
about 2-3 degrees in width. Still beneath it, a narrow band
of orographic Sc clouds was seen.
Location: Zirje pri Sezani (N45.71,E13.92)
UTC Time and Date: 8.11.2004 - 00:10 (20 minutes)
Observer: Marko Korosec
Limiting magnitude: +6.0
Light pollution: moderate
Cloudiness: 10%
Limiting magnitude at the location of aurora: ca +4
Auroral activity: low
Elevation of activity: 15 degrees
Types of activity:
(diffuse glow)
Comments: Aurora was seen as a faint red glow up to
15 degrees over the NNW horzion for about 20 minutes.
November 8/9, 2004
Location: Spodnje Pirnice, Slovenia (N46.13 E14.44)
UTC Date and Time: 8.11.2004 - 23:30 (15 minutes)
Observer: unknown
Light Pollution: low
Dimmest Stars Visible within Aurora: 6th to 7th Mag
Estimated Intensity of Activity: very low
Elevation of activity: 15 degrees
Types of activity:
(Diffuse Glows)
Sky Conditions: 60% clear view
November 9/10, 2004
Photographs from Krizna gora, Slovenia (N46.20, E14.27)
by Jure Zakrajsek using Nikon D-70 digital camera at ISO 1600
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19:47 UT .. 30 sec
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19:48 UT .. 30 sec
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19:49 UT .. 30 sec
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19:51 UT .. 30 sec
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19:52 UT .. 30 sec
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Photographs from Krizna gora, Slovenia (N46.20, E14.27)
by Javor Kac using 37-mm f/2.8 lens and Kodak 1600 film
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19:49 UT .. 30 sec
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19:51 UT .. 40 sec
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19:55 UT .. 76 sec
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Location: Krizna gora (N46.20,E14.27)
UTC Time and Date: 9.11.2004 - 19:48 (7 minutes)
Observer: Jure Atanackov
Limiting magnitude: +6.1
Light pollution: moderate
Cloudiness: 50%
Limiting magnitude at the location of aurora: ca +4.5
Auroral activity: low
Elevation of activity: 15 degrees
Types of activity:
(diffuse glow)
Comments: Aurora first seen as a whitish pillar in
Ursa Major, followed by faint red glow a minute later.
Observation lasted 7 minutes, during which the aurora
reached 15 degrees high and about 40 degrees wide along
the horizon. Faint to moderately bright red glow with
glimpses of pillars. The glow disappeared before clouds
covered the north.
Location: Krizna gora (N46.20,E14.27)
UTC Time and Date: 9.11.2004 - 19:48 (7 minutes)
Observer: Javor Kac
Limiting magnitude: +6.2
Light pollution: moderate
Cloudiness: 50%
Limiting magnitude at the location of aurora: ca +5
Auroral activity: low
Elevation of activity: 15 degrees
Types of activity:
(diffuse glow)
Comments: Faint colourless glow was noticed at 19:48 UT,
then brightened and took on reddish colour. It covered
about 40 degrees in azimuth and 15 degrees in altitude.
Just before the clouds rolled in the activity ceased.
Location: Krizna gora (N46.20,E14.27)
UTC Time and Date: 9.11.2004 - 19:48 (7 minutes)
Observer: Jure Zakrajsek
Limiting magnitude: +6.1
Light pollution: moderate
Cloudiness: 50%
Limiting magnitude at the location of aurora: ca +5
Auroral activity: low
Elevation of activity: 15 degrees
Types of activity:
(diffuse glow)
Comments: Aurora seen as faint red glow in Ursa Major.
Observation lasted for 7 minutes. Aurora reached 15 degrees
in altitude. The show ended just before the clouds covered
the northern skys.
Location: Slovenska Bistrica (N46.39,E15.56)
UTC Time and Date: 9.11.2004 - 22:56 (2 minutes)
Observer: Breda Kac
Light pollution: moderate
Cloudiness: 0%
Auroral activity: moderate
Elevation of activity: 20 degrees
Types of activity:
(diffuse glow)
Comments: Aurora seen as red glow in the NNW direction,
spanning about 30 degrees in azimuth. It was too cold
to observe any longer but aurora surely persisted
much longer.
Location: Kostanjevec (N46.39,E15.52)
UTC Time and Date: 9.11.2004 - about 21:30 (? minutes)
Observer: Jure Dobaj
Limiting magnitude: N/A
Light pollution: moderate
Cloudiness: 100%
Elevation of activity: ?? degrees
Types of activity:
(diffuse glow)
Comments: Faint glow was seen moving over the northern
horizon despite heavy fog. I took several photos in
order to confirm the aurora.
The text on this page is © 2004 by MBK Team.
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