October 9, 2015 Auroras
Eastern Itasca County
The solar wind was strong (700 km/s), but the magnetic field was hovering just either side of zero. Nevertheless, people were reporting the "blob"-- a flat, green aurora that appears well equatorward of the main auroral oval. I headed out to see it but knew I had to contend with clouds. There was clearing to my east, but it was threatened by more clouds moving in from the northwest. I decided to hedge and not go beyond eastern Itasca County on Minnesota Highway 65. There, the clouds parted briefly to allow me to see green for a few minutes. I then headed home.
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| Auroras over Minnesota Highway 65 south of Togo and north of Nashwauk. |