This new book addresses a gap in the literature, offering an explanation of the aurora's causes, how the occurrence of major events may now be predicted, and how amateur observers can go about recording displays. This is the first serious book about aurora written for practical but non-professional observers. It provides a concise accessible description of the various auroral forms and how to record them, illustrated with color images of recent displays. It contains details of 'Space Weather' forecasting websites, how to interpret and use the information given on these, and how to anticipate auroral activity.

When auroral storms occur they are a source of great interest and excitement. A number of books highlighting the impact of auroral-geomagnetic storms on communications and satellite technology have appeared in recent years. None, however, has addressed the observational aspect of aurora. This new book fills a gap in the literature, offering an explanation of the aurora's causes, how the occurrence of major events may now be predicted, and how amateur observers can go about recording displays. It is the first serious book about aurora written for practical but non-professional observers. The book provides a concise accessible description of the various auroral forms and how to record them, illustrated with color images of recent displays. It contains details of 'Space Weather' forecasting websites, how to interpret and use the information they offer, and how to anticipate auroral activity.

Atmospheric Phenomena.- Causes of the Aurora.- Auroral Forecasting.- Observing the Aurora.- Historical Aurorae and More Recent Events.- Aurora Elsewhere.- Early observers and theorists of the aurora classed it along with other atmospheric phenomena as a "meteor." In common with many of his other ideas that remained unchallenged until well into the sixteenth century, Aristotle's fourth century BC view of these events being the result of ignition of rising vapors belowthe innermost celestial sphere prevailed for some time. An alternative, proposed by the Roman philosopher Seneca in his Questiones Naturales, was that aurorae were flames viewed through chasmata-cracks in the heavenly firmament..- Noctilucent Clouds and other Phenomena.