Official Wyoming Picture Thread (Gillette, Buffalo: place, hot, drive)

[Wyomiles]

You have shots of the borialis in Casper ? I didn't know we could see that in Wyoming .

[Cloudfish]

I didn't know we could see that in Wyoming .

Yep, we sure can! I've seen them here maybe about a dozen times--but I keep up on solar activity and you really have to be aware of when solar flares occur and how long they take to reach the earth.

Unfortunately, right now the solar cycle, which is a cycle of 11 years, is in the middle of the solar minimum. The last solar maximum was about 2001-2002 -- so we're looking at around 2012 before it peaks again. That doesn't mean that aurora's won't happen here now---but the likelihood is small.

Here in Casper we are at a geographic latitude of about 43N, but at a corrected magnetic latitude of about 51. There is an index, called the Kp index, a number from 0 to 9, which is used to refer to geomagnetic activity. If the Geographic Activity Forecast is for "storm" levels you can expect Kp indices of 5 or greater. As a general rule, at this latitude, a Kp index of 6 or 7 is needed before we can see them. The higher the Kp index the farther south you can see them.

As I said, auroras can happen any time---these two photos I took in November of 2004 when the solar activity was actually waning. I'd been aware of a large solar flare a couple of days before and so I was waiting for an event. I live on the south side of town so all of the lights of Casper (to the north) are "pollution" -- but I could still see the aurora even from my house. I drove out to the airport northwest of town and set up my camera on a tripod for some timed exposures. So...in trying to keep within the theme of "Wyoming Pictures" these are taken from the Casper airport--the first facing to the east northeast--the lights are the town of Bar Nunn. As a matter of interest, you can see Orion "jumping out of the flames" in the second photo. I'm so corny....

[HighlandLady]

I remember that solar storm well...I believe people in Arizona could see it that night. Here's an image taken just last month...though it is a weak display and low on the horizon, if you watch for solar winds and flares, there are instances where the Aurorae can be seen even here.




Here are a couple websites to bookmark...they alert you to when the conditions are right to view them here in Casper:

SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids

Solar Terrestrial Dispatch - Leaders in Space Weather Forecasting Services

[Kristynwy]

That is really fascinating about the auroras ect!

I love both of your pictures I will definitely check out those links too...

[Cloudfish]

Just thought I'd add a photo of Casper---the west half of it anyway.... This is taken from the turn out 3/4's of the way up the mountain. I wanted to get the "whole" of Casper, but there is a large tree (that would be just to the right in this photo) that blocks the view of the east side. This is 6 photos stitched together, taken a couple of weeks ago as it is just starting to turn green (!!) The view, from left to right, is looking west to almost north....

[HighlandLady]

A fine panorama, Cloudfish. I know that tree well

[molon labe]

Count me in for a few more..... Story area and Tongue River.....

Below Story:



Turkey outside out cabin in Story.

You should see the series of shots with these turkey in them... my wife was taking a picture and the birds caught sight of her. This is the first one.... second one they're looking at her.... third one they're heading at her.... next few are blurry as she's making a break for it!



Tongue River:





Up in the canyon... that's me on the rock....

[Cloudfish]

Nice shots--now I'm ready to go fishing!! ....and a turkey sandwich sounds pretty good right now, too....

[WyorBust]

This is why I'm moving to Wyoming! If you could call to Heaven by telephone... it would be a local call from there... cause it Gods country.

[ME-Evergreen]

Wow! What a beautiful place to live.