On 9th of October early UTC an X1.8 solar flare was observed along with a halo coronal mass ejection associated with
it. They were produced by sunspot region 3848. At that time the region was in a nearly perfect Earth-facing position.
Because of the region position and coronagraph imagery CME was estimated to hit Earth and do it quite fast. Space
Weather Prediction Center announced G4 stormwatch for the next day.
Regular weather predictions were quite saddening. AROME and COSMO models were provoking me by showing fast moving
clouds and potential periods of clear sky between 22:00 and midnight CEST. Eyeballing the clouds gave similar impression
and so I decided to gamble on it. Once SWPC posted first information on a million kilometres mark I packed my stuff and
drove off to a middle of a field despite having a stratus blanket over the head.
Gamble paid off.
Photos are in chronological order and I tried to select them in a way to represent each unique phase of the show. I
setup around 22:00 CEST and left 01:32. I had hot tea and hot shower and I didn't get ill the next day.
I tried to experiment with camera settings this time. The results are slightly out of focus. Now I know. I think.
Once SWPC summary of the event is posted I'll try to put the link here just like the last time. If you spot it in the
wild and it's not here, please send me an e-mail.