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12th March 2012 An M-8 solar flare erupted
from sunspot group AR1429 around 1745UT on 10/3/2012 sending a CME Earth-bound.
It reached Earth around 0930UT on the12/3/2012 rattling the Earth's
magnetosphere, turning Bz south and Kp
hit 6 (storm). The CME's arrival was fortuitously timed for late evening in
Southeastern Australia where observers under clear skies were treated to a
strong, but short-lived, display of the aurora australis. Highlights of the
display, which waxed and waned for about an hour, were the strength of the
salmon-pink colours and the reddish coloured beams which were clearly visible to
the naked eye from areas free of local light pollution. |
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11:44UT; Some red beams and a green arc form to start the show |
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11:54UT; colours were visible to the eye as the show moves towards the west |
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11:59UT; several very distinct red beams form clearly visible to the naked eye |
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12:01UT; the show starts to fade away |
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12:08UT; show was almost gone, ending 25-30 minutes of brilliant action |
