Nature's fireworks

**Ray1936** · June-22-15, 06:08 PM

Might be a good night for an all nighter if you don't have to work tomorrow:

U.S. National Weather Service [[NWS)

The NWS Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Warning for G4 [[severe) geomagnetic storm that is currently underway.
Potential impacts include:
Power Syst...ems: Possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems will mistakenly trip out key assets from the grid
Spacecraft Operations: May experience surface charging and tracking problems, corrections may be needed for orientation problems
Other Systems: Induced pipeline currents affect preventive measures, HF radio propagation sporadic, satellite navigation degraded for hours, low-frequency radio navigation disrupted, and aurora.

**Jimaz** · June-22-15, 07:28 PM

Link repair: https://www.facebook.com/NWS/photos/a.207878764040.128709.206848514040/10154095163124041/?type=1&fref=nf

**Ray1936** · June-22-15, 08:10 PM

Thanks, Jim.

**Jimaz** · June-22-15, 09:07 PM

You're most welcome, Ray.

I once worked with satellites. It's truly amazing that they can be pushed out of orbit by something as minor as these solar winds. It's such a major concern that they have to add reserve fuel to allow for these course corrections.

**Ray1936** · June-22-15, 09:23 PM

Well, there's nothing to provide any resistance, I would suppose. Were something in space light enough, like the proverbial feather, I imagine even photons could give it a push.

**gazhekwe** · June-23-15, 04:35 PM

The northern lights were spectacular up at the foot of Lake Superior last night. This copyright picture was taken by a Bay Mills Indian Community photographer.

**Ray1936** · June-23-15, 07:12 PM

Beautiful! Thanks for the post, Gaz.

**Honky Tonk** · June-24-15, 07:43 AM

Was anyone able to observe the Northern Lights, [[not the bar) from the Metro-Detroit area last night? There were a few news stories floating around that it may have been possible. I got up and went out a couple of times, but other than a crystal clear sky, it was just the usual things hanging up there.