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July 28 (27 local time) Auroras

Grand Rapids, MN

A corotating interaction region ahead of a high speed solar wind stream began to affect Earth, so I went out to look for auroras.  It seems most of the events are on nights when I have to work the next morning (okay, the probability of that is 5/7, but there don't seem to be any events on weekends this summer), and this was no exception.  I did not stay out very late.  In face, the auroras faded before midnight, so I took the opportunity to go home at get to bed.  It's one advantage of earlier darkness in the later stages of summer.  I don't have to wait until midnight to see the auroras.

Nice Auroras
Auroras over McKinney Lake at 11:19 PM.
Nice Auroras
VIIRS image at 1:58 AM.  The brighter band to the north of the Great Lakes and over James bay is the aurora.
Nice Auroras
Solar wind data from SWPC showing southward Bz and increasing density as the corotating interaction region approaches.

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