Auroral Ring for September 26

September 27, 2001

Pmapnst2

Provided by: NOAA
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster

A moderately-strong geomagnetic storm occurred on the Sun earlier this week, which may stimulate auroral activity over the next few days. The above image was taken by instruments on board the NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) on September 26, and it shows the current location of the Earth's auroral ring as viewed above the Earth. The current ring position is somewhat south of its normal location over North America, and it may move more southward in the next day or so. If this happens, and if clear skies prevail, it may be possible for residents in southern Canada and in northern states other than Alaska to observe the northern lights.

POES continually monitors the power flux carried by the protons and electrons responsible for producing aurora. On an auroral activity index that ranges from 1 to 10, the current level of activity is 7. The red arrow on the plot points toward the meridian or longitude at noon (Sun's position) at the time the image was taken.

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