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

cruisingdownthestreet · 11-22-2016, 09:19 PM

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

shay2nak · 11-23-2016, 01:59 PM

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.

R3dliner · 11-23-2016, 02:30 PM

go to Alaska or Iceland. Beautiful there. Was up in Tahoe earlier this year and didn't see crap lol.

Josh (PA) · 11-23-2016, 02:34 PM

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

cruisingdownthestreet · 11-23-2016, 03:26 PM

what about a bright starry night?

allachie9 · 11-23-2016, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisingdownthestreet

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

lorinzo · 11-23-2016, 06:37 PM

That's amazing!!!

Something I have to add to my list of things to see.

GoHokiesGo · 12-09-2016, 09:37 AM

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.

mbanks21 · 12-09-2016, 10:23 AM

Principal Skinner's kitchen

rouxeny · 12-10-2016, 07:19 PM

Pretty sure you can't. Too close to the equator and way too much light pollution.

11-22-2016, 09:19 PM	#1
cruisingdownthestreet Second Lieutenant 123 Rep 258 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: LA county iTrader: (0)	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, 01:59 PM	#2
shay2nak smoke if ya got 'em 1067 Rep 2,177 Posts Drives: F80 M3/Lotus Exige/500 Abarth Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Calipornia iTrader: (0)	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, 02:30 PM	#3
R3dliner Lieutenant Colonel 940 Rep 1,929 Posts Drives: 18 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	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, 02:34 PM	#4
Josh (PA) Banned 230 Rep 265 Posts Drives: '11 135 vert, '13 x5, '03 e46 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Downingtown, PA iTrader: (0)	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, 03:26 PM	#5
cruisingdownthestreet Second Lieutenant 123 Rep 258 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: LA county iTrader: (0)	what about a bright starry night?
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11-23-2016, 06:37 PM	#7
lorinzo Captain 85 Rep 953 Posts Drives: e90 M3; i3 rex; e46 M3 vert Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	That's amazing!!! Something I have to add to my list of things to see. __________________ \| 2011 M3 Sedan \| Le Mans Blue \| M-DCT \| ZC2 \| ZCP \| ZP3 \| Moonroof \| Enhanced Premium Sound \| Dinan exhaust \| Dinan software \| Dinan pulley \| Dinan intake \| Dinan pedals \| Bimmian LED interior \| Lux H8 V3 \| WeissLicht PY24W LED \| 20% tint \| IND reflectors \| IND front grills \| IND key hole cover \| IND hood vents \| IND M5 mirror covers \| Reus Systems audio \| Verstraβe shifter paddles \| BBS LM 20x9 et 15 and 20x10.5 et 15 \| Hankook Ventus V12 255/30/20 and 295/25/20 \| Red BBS Racing lug nut kit \| H&R Sport springs \|
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12-09-2016, 09:37 AM	#8
GoHokiesGo Private 77 Rep 87 Posts Drives: 2010 X5M Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Loudoun, VA iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ ~Jason 2010 X5///M - Catless DP's, TTFS Stg2 tune 2007 335i E92 - Sold JP Photography - Travel/Landscape/Automotive Photography Last edited by GoHokiesGo; 12-09-2016 at 09:42 AM..
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12-09-2016, 10:23 AM	#9
mbanks21 Colonel 1279 Rep 2,962 Posts Drives: 2015 335i MSport Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: High Bridge, NJ iTrader: (8)	Principal Skinner's kitchen
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12-10-2016, 07:19 PM	#10
rouxeny Living the aloha 242 Rep 449 Posts Drives: 2017 LBB M2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Maui iTrader: (0)	Pretty sure you can't. Too close to the equator and way too much light pollution.
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