Vincent Ledvina
@vincentledvina.bsky.social
📷”The Aurora Guy”
🌌Space Physics Ph.D. student
📍North Pole, Alaska
🫂Participatory science, science comm.
🌀 Professional aurora chaser
👨💻Views my own
🌌Space Physics Ph.D. student
📍North Pole, Alaska
🫂Participatory science, science comm.
🌀 Professional aurora chaser
👨💻Views my own
Pinned
SWPC has only ever issued a handful of G4 watches, and we have now for Nov 12 due to three incoming CMEs. Storming may begin on Nov 11 with the impact of the first CME with two more close behind it.
If the forecast verifies, much of the U.S. may see the aurora Tue/Wed nights.
If the forecast verifies, much of the U.S. may see the aurora Tue/Wed nights.
At the opera this afternoon. La bohème
November 24, 2025 at 12:23 AM
At the opera this afternoon. La bohème
Imagine being alone under a sky like this
November 23, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Imagine being alone under a sky like this
Positive-polarity coronal holes 98 and 99 are now facing Earth and sending fast wind our way. This solar wind enhancement may reach us in 2-3 days and cause G1-G2/Kp 5-6 conditions. We are already seeing a field enhancement likely caused by an SSBC. More activity may be coming.
November 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Positive-polarity coronal holes 98 and 99 are now facing Earth and sending fast wind our way. This solar wind enhancement may reach us in 2-3 days and cause G1-G2/Kp 5-6 conditions. We are already seeing a field enhancement likely caused by an SSBC. More activity may be coming.
Looks like we have some decent IMF enhancement. Auroral displays along the northern tier of the U.S. are possible tonight if data hold. The cause of this may be an SSBC structure (crossing between solar wind polarities).
November 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Looks like we have some decent IMF enhancement. Auroral displays along the northern tier of the U.S. are possible tonight if data hold. The cause of this may be an SSBC structure (crossing between solar wind polarities).
Has anyone observed STEVE from Alaska? This is just a soft ask for now, but I am compiling a list of events to study further, and if you have a photo of STEVE from Alaska (specifically near Fairbanks), feel free to comment it below with a date, time, and location!
Photo below by Neil Zeller/NASA
Photo below by Neil Zeller/NASA
November 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Has anyone observed STEVE from Alaska? This is just a soft ask for now, but I am compiling a list of events to study further, and if you have a photo of STEVE from Alaska (specifically near Fairbanks), feel free to comment it below with a date, time, and location!
Photo below by Neil Zeller/NASA
Photo below by Neil Zeller/NASA
See this halo CME? Unfortunately, it's heading directly... AWAY from Earth. However, it looks like AR 4274 might be responsible for this big eruption, and it is probably 10 days or so from making a re-appearance on the Earth-facing disk if it survives long enough. We'll see!
November 22, 2025 at 8:43 AM
See this halo CME? Unfortunately, it's heading directly... AWAY from Earth. However, it looks like AR 4274 might be responsible for this big eruption, and it is probably 10 days or so from making a re-appearance on the Earth-facing disk if it survives long enough. We'll see!
If anyone is looking for good presents for the upcoming holidays, check out my most popular product, my aurora borealis "Magic Mug!"
Available on my website: theauroraguy.com/products/aur...
Available on my website: theauroraguy.com/products/aur...
November 22, 2025 at 8:04 AM
If anyone is looking for good presents for the upcoming holidays, check out my most popular product, my aurora borealis "Magic Mug!"
Available on my website: theauroraguy.com/products/aur...
Available on my website: theauroraguy.com/products/aur...
The aurora LAST NIGHT on Maia's tour! It was cloudy in Fairbanks, so she had to drive all the way to Paxson to catch these lights.
Book a tour with Maia: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
Book a tour with Maia: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
November 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The aurora LAST NIGHT on Maia's tour! It was cloudy in Fairbanks, so she had to drive all the way to Paxson to catch these lights.
Book a tour with Maia: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
Book a tour with Maia: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
Solar minimum vibes today? Not exactly, but the Earth-facing disk is pretty quiet at the moment. SWPC only gives a 15% chance of an M-flare over the next 24 hr. Although we have seen new ARs rotate in, they are all fairly stable and not super exciting.
November 21, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Solar minimum vibes today? Not exactly, but the Earth-facing disk is pretty quiet at the moment. SWPC only gives a 15% chance of an M-flare over the next 24 hr. Although we have seen new ARs rotate in, they are all fairly stable and not super exciting.
Just an FYI, if you have been trying to reach me by DM over the past week, please send me an email if I have not responded to you! theauroraguy.com/pages/contact
Photo taken by Maia Hartwigsen. Book a tour with her on my site: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
Photo taken by Maia Hartwigsen. Book a tour with her on my site: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
November 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Just an FYI, if you have been trying to reach me by DM over the past week, please send me an email if I have not responded to you! theauroraguy.com/pages/contact
Photo taken by Maia Hartwigsen. Book a tour with her on my site: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
Photo taken by Maia Hartwigsen. Book a tour with her on my site: theauroraguy.com/pages/maias-...
November in Fairbanks is magical with the aurora
November 21, 2025 at 4:14 PM
November in Fairbanks is magical with the aurora
Here is a current view from Maine showing the blue aurora, likely only visible on camera. The best time to see blue aurora is shortly after sunset when the sky is still illuminated by the setting sun but dark enough to see the aurora.
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
November 20, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Here is a current view from Maine showing the blue aurora, likely only visible on camera. The best time to see blue aurora is shortly after sunset when the sky is still illuminated by the setting sun but dark enough to see the aurora.
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
Rare blue aurora is happening now over Maine and is possible after sunset for folks close to the U.S.-Canada border. Blue aurora is caused by sunlight exciting nitrogen at high altitudes.
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Rare blue aurora is happening now over Maine and is possible after sunset for folks close to the U.S.-Canada border. Blue aurora is caused by sunlight exciting nitrogen at high altitudes.
There's aurora on the Maine camera now with beautiful sunlit arcs. Rare blue aurora can be seen now due to the sunlight reacting with these high-altitude constituents. Even though the sun has set on the ground, it's still visible from auroral altitudes.
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
November 20, 2025 at 11:03 PM
There's aurora on the Maine camera now with beautiful sunlit arcs. Rare blue aurora can be seen now due to the sunlight reacting with these high-altitude constituents. Even though the sun has set on the ground, it's still visible from auroral altitudes.
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
We may be experiencing a "stealth CME" rather than just an enhancement from a coronal hole (CIR). When looking at both Bz and By, you can see a sharp discontinuity around 14 UT which is the transition from the CME sheath to CME core.
November 20, 2025 at 10:24 PM
We may be experiencing a "stealth CME" rather than just an enhancement from a coronal hole (CIR). When looking at both Bz and By, you can see a sharp discontinuity around 14 UT which is the transition from the CME sheath to CME core.
The Bz is now pointing south, and we could see mid-latitude auroral displays. It appears we are passing through a CME structure now, actually, after looking at solar wind data more closely.
If you're above the 45th parallel, keep tabs on webcams: go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
If you're above the 45th parallel, keep tabs on webcams: go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The Bz is now pointing south, and we could see mid-latitude auroral displays. It appears we are passing through a CME structure now, actually, after looking at solar wind data more closely.
If you're above the 45th parallel, keep tabs on webcams: go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
If you're above the 45th parallel, keep tabs on webcams: go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
From NOAA SWPC's Forecast Discussion:
24 hr summar of solar wind parameters:
Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels until ~20/0900 UTC, when an enhancement occurred - likely associated with the beginning of a CIR ahead of a CH HSS. Total field increased from ~6 nT to 15 nT ...
24 hr summar of solar wind parameters:
Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels until ~20/0900 UTC, when an enhancement occurred - likely associated with the beginning of a CIR ahead of a CH HSS. Total field increased from ~6 nT to 15 nT ...
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
From NOAA SWPC's Forecast Discussion:
24 hr summar of solar wind parameters:
Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels until ~20/0900 UTC, when an enhancement occurred - likely associated with the beginning of a CIR ahead of a CH HSS. Total field increased from ~6 nT to 15 nT ...
24 hr summar of solar wind parameters:
Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels until ~20/0900 UTC, when an enhancement occurred - likely associated with the beginning of a CIR ahead of a CH HSS. Total field increased from ~6 nT to 15 nT ...
Reposted by Vincent Ledvina
We have a PhD opportunity at the University of Reading focused on analysing Jupiter and Saturn auroral observations!
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Crocus DLA
crocus-dla.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
We have a PhD opportunity at the University of Reading focused on analysing Jupiter and Saturn auroral observations!
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
It looks like the CIR has arrived at our upstream solar wind satellites as indicated by the increase in magnetic field strength (Bt). 14 nT is enough potential for G1-G2 storming if the Bz can point south. Let’s keep an eye on solar wind conditions leading into tonight for any improvement.
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
It looks like the CIR has arrived at our upstream solar wind satellites as indicated by the increase in magnetic field strength (Bt). 14 nT is enough potential for G1-G2 storming if the Bz can point south. Let’s keep an eye on solar wind conditions leading into tonight for any improvement.
Absolutely majestic view of the aurora right from our front door.
November 20, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Absolutely majestic view of the aurora right from our front door.
Gorgeous eruptions on the Sun today with multiple prominences lifting off of the Sun's northern and southern polar regions plus a little spitfire eruption from the western limb around 22 UT. None of these CMEs are Earth-directed.
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Gorgeous eruptions on the Sun today with multiple prominences lifting off of the Sun's northern and southern polar regions plus a little spitfire eruption from the western limb around 22 UT. None of these CMEs are Earth-directed.
DId you know I am selling a 2026 calendar featuring my favorite aurora photos? It's available on my website: go.theauroraguy.com/2026-aurora-...
November 20, 2025 at 12:15 AM
DId you know I am selling a 2026 calendar featuring my favorite aurora photos? It's available on my website: go.theauroraguy.com/2026-aurora-...
Solar noon in Fairbanks, Alaska. The sun only rises six degrees above the horizon. We have 5 hours 48 minutes of daylight currently, decreasing at a rate of around six minutes per day.
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Solar noon in Fairbanks, Alaska. The sun only rises six degrees above the horizon. We have 5 hours 48 minutes of daylight currently, decreasing at a rate of around six minutes per day.
Scientists can use helioseismology to probe for large active regions we can't see. In this annotated image courtsey of SolarHam, we can see two chunky active regions approaching the east limb potentially rotating into our view in the coming days. Ex-AR 4274 looks healthy, too.
#heliophysics
#heliophysics
November 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Scientists can use helioseismology to probe for large active regions we can't see. In this annotated image courtsey of SolarHam, we can see two chunky active regions approaching the east limb potentially rotating into our view in the coming days. Ex-AR 4274 looks healthy, too.
#heliophysics
#heliophysics
Earlier today, there was an occulted C9.9 flare observed behind the Sun's eastern limb around 09:52 UTC. Because the flare was not fully in our view, its magnitude was almost certainly in M-class range. A narrow CME occured with this flare which will not impact Earth.
November 19, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Earlier today, there was an occulted C9.9 flare observed behind the Sun's eastern limb around 09:52 UTC. Because the flare was not fully in our view, its magnitude was almost certainly in M-class range. A narrow CME occured with this flare which will not impact Earth.