By the way, I live in Michigan. Imaging aurorae has been my goal for a long time.
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They're pretty unpredictable. It's caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere (thermosphere). The charged particles originate in the magnetosphere and solar wind and are directed by the Earth's magnetic field into the atmosphere.
Yhe likelihood of an aurora occurring depends mostly on the slant of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) lines (the slant is known as Bz), being greater with southward slants. Geomagnetic storms that ignite auroras actually happen more often during the months around the equinoxes.
Yhe likelihood of an aurora occurring depends mostly on the slant of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) lines (the slant is known as Bz), being greater with southward slants. Geomagnetic storms that ignite auroras actually happen more often during the months around the equinoxes.
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Basically unpredictable, as they depend on coronal mass ejections aimed our way. Log into spaceweather.com for regular notification and updates on CMEs