The August 12, 2000 Aurora in Washington

The August 12 Persied meteor shower was overshadowed by a spectacular auroral event. Many experienced aurora observers stated that this storm was the brightest that they had seen for years, and some even in their lifetimes.

This page has accounts and images of the Northern Lights over the state of Washington, and has images and links for current activity

Mt Baker and the Big Dipper are dwarfed by the Northern Lights

Here is what Wade had to say about it: I could detect faint arcs as it became dark enough to see (about 05:00 UTC). Faint rays and arcs (30 to 50 degrees above the horizon) for the first couple of hours. Sometime after 07:00 UTC (not sure of the exact time because I was in total awe!) the sky just came alive! Reds and greens and purples...rapid firing towards the zenith...intense colors and magnificent corona were visible even in the moonlight. I never even imagined it could look so beautiful, or so bright! At one point the aurora actually caused shadows! Intensity lessened dramatically at about 8:10 UTC. At this moment the aurora is a moderate green glow over the northern horizon with some minor rays. I can die happy now!

The Pleiades, Hyades, Jupiter and Saturn are visible on the right

See several more of Wade's pictures at Whatcom Association of Celestial Observers Photo Album

Keith Mackay (that's me) from his front yard

These humble images are not nearly as beautiful as Daniel's and Wade's,
but they do show what could be seen from my house in the suburbs

For me the event was wonderful and frustrating. I was lucky enough to wake up at around 2:45 AM (9:45 UTC) and look out the window. Running outside with my pants almost on, I saw a slow moving ribbon of blue-green light extending from just above the eastern horizon, above the north star, and down through the big dipper. My front yard is in the suburbs of Seattle and Tacoma and my street hedged with disgusting yellow streetlights. Over my neighbors houses it appeared to be twilight. I thought it was light pollution, but when the storm ended it was as if someone had switched off the sunrise. The sky was full of light from the eastern horizon, to the zenith, to the northwestern horizon. There were rays extending from the ribbon and converging directly overhead. The eastern rays were purple and red as they extended through, Taurus, Jupiter, Saturn and the Pliedes. Before the aurora faded, thin pulsating white waves shot along the rays from the ribbon to the overhead. As twilight approached the rays and ribbon melted into diffuse glowing patches.

I saw the last few minutes of the 3-hour event. While I am delighted to have seen what I did, I have never felt so frustrated, because a few hours earlier I decided not to go to a dark site. Drizzle was in the forecast for that morning, and the last time I drove for 2 hours pursuing a geomagnetic storm I was stood up by the aurora gods. My consolation is this page and the images that Wade and Daniel have shared here. My thanks to them and to the unnamed people whose observations I borrowed.

Reports from the aurora observation network

I borrowed a few quotes from the Auroral Activity Observation Network before they were deleted. Unfortunately, I don't know the names of the people who submitted their observations, but I would be happy to add your name if I am quoting you (or delete you if it bugs you).

Bellingham
I've seen strong activity before (1982, Maine, USA; 1991, Washington, USA), but never like this. Wave after wave was pulsating overhead, almost flashing, it was moving so fast. Several times, from western horizon to eastern horizon, full arcwaves would flash from north to south at a rate of nearly 3 per second. Amazing. And all this was observed with a bright street light thirty feet in front of my home -- by the time this activity was at its peak (around 10:00 UTC), the street light was drowned out.

Coupeville
I have lived in this town for 40 years, and have never seen such a spectacular display!! They were dancing right over my head. I woke up everyone I know and shared the magical display with them. All I can say is AWESOME!

Gig Harbor
Needless to say, this was one of the most amazing auroral activities I have experienced. I was surprised by the extent and intensity of it. Red glow from the horizon up to about 30 deg, sweeping curtains of blue-green, "laser" shots from north horizon to about 70 deg and pale green "clouds" that faded and reappeared over the course of 45 minutes.

The latest aurora image from the IMAGE spacecraft

For more space based images visit:
   Space Weather Now from NOAA
   Visible Imaging System
   NOAA POES Spacecraft North

Estimated Visibility of Auroral Activity Northern Hemisphere Ground Locations

For ground based sighting reports visit:
   Auroral Activity Observation Network

Aurora Activity Forcast Sites
   The Space Weather Bureau
   Solar Terrestrial Dispatch Hompage

More aurora links to come