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      11-22-2016, 08:19 PM   #1
cruisingdownthestreet
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Where and when in Southern California can I see the aurora borealis?

I think I'm in the right forum.

Where and when in Southern California can I see the aurora borealis?

I was once told I could faintly see it in Big Bear
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      11-23-2016, 12:59 PM   #2
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I don't think I've ever heard of any being seen in LA. You have to be near the poles. The stronger the solar storms the further south you could see these, but even then it wouldn't be anywhere near the equator. Earth's magnetic field is weaker at the poles and that's why you see them there.
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      11-23-2016, 01:30 PM   #3
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go to Alaska or Iceland. Beautiful there. Was up in Tahoe earlier this year and didn't see crap lol.
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      11-23-2016, 01:34 PM   #4
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http://www.aurora-service.org/aurora-forecast/

This site has daily forecasts for the aurora. I doubt you'd ever get a chance to see it in So Cal. Too far south and way too much light pollution
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      11-23-2016, 02:26 PM   #5
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what about a bright starry night?
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      11-23-2016, 03:19 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cruisingdownthestreet View Post
I think I'm in the right forum.

Where and when in Southern California can I see the aurora borealis?

I was once told I could faintly see it in Big Bear
Where in Southern California ?
Well away from city lights.

When ?
Maybe once in a thousand years or so, and more likely around the spring or autumn equinox.

Good luck

Best bit of advice I can give you is go further north, much further north.
Just to show what you're missing in Southern California, here's one taken a mile from my home in Northern Scotland in September this year (close to the equinox).

Aurora 28 Sept 16 by Alan Butterfield, on Flickr
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      11-23-2016, 05:37 PM   #7
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That's amazing!!!

Something I have to add to my list of things to see.
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      12-09-2016, 08:37 AM   #8
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Another +1 to going far far north, to places like Iceland, Alaska, Canada, Norway, etc. Or go far south to New Zealand - which is absolutely amazing in its own right.

You're even further south than Virginia's latitude, and we need a Kp level of 8+ to have even a remote chance of seeing the lights here in Virginia. That's rarer than a once in a lifetime event, plus you have to hope for weather, clouds, daylight timing to all work out properly also.

I took a trip to Iceland a few years back to see it, and it definitely is incredible to see in person. We had several great locations scouted out and they never showed up after more than a week, then on our final night where we had pretty bland scenery near the airport they finally made an appearance.
Pics here:
http://www.jasonpeacottphotography.c...rthern-Lights/

You need to be near the poles of the earth, typically during winter because of the longer dark nights and lower humidity levels, and you have to hope for weather to cooperate because clouds will easily block any chance of seeing it too.
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Last edited by GoHokiesGo; 12-09-2016 at 08:42 AM..
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      12-09-2016, 09:23 AM   #9
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      12-10-2016, 06:19 PM   #10
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Pretty sure you can't. Too close to the equator and way too much light pollution.
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