Northern Lights aurora borealis sightings could be even clearer in UK tonight, The Northern Lights could be even clearer tonight, after stargazers as far south as the M4 corridor managed to spot them yesterday.
The Aurora Borealis are normally only visible from the Arctic and Antarctic regions, but a mass injection of particles from the sun earlier this week meant that it was possible to see them from the UK.
They were not as strong as expected last night, but scientists are predicting a much clearer view this evening.
The natural light display is created when atoms in Earth's atmosphere hit the sun’s particles, which are charged with electricity.
US organisation the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an 85 per cent chance of activity tonight.
Faint displays of the lights can regularly be seen from Scotland, but is rare to be able to see them in southern England.
Alan Thomson from the British Geological Survey said that people could even be able to see the lights from built-up areas such as London, suggesting that it was “unlikely” but still “possible”.
The last time the lights were so clearly visible in southern England was 151 years ago.
However, Professor Jim Wild, professor of space physics at Lancaster University, predicted that it is more likely that people in Scotland will be able to see the lights as the magnetic field which pushes the aurora south needs to be in a more favourable position.
Weather conditions will be key this evening, with clear skies needed to be able to see the lights.
Experts are advising those who want to see the lights to head for higher ground away from urban areas to avoid light pollution and look for somewhere with a good view of the northern horizon.
What are the Northern Lights?
Displays of the Northern Lights occur when solar particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere and on impact emit burning gases that produce different coloured lights (oxygen produces green and yellow; nitrogen blue). The scientific term for the lights is the aurora borealis (named after the Roman goddess of the dawn). A similar spectacle in the southern hemisphere is known as the aurora australis.
Where can you see them?
The aurora borealis occurs in an oval doughnut-shaped area located above the magnetic pole. The best sightings are within the “doughnut” (rather than at the pole itself), and away from artificial light and moonlight.
The oval rotates with the sun, and it may grow and shrink in size considerably in only a matter of hours. The most spectacular displays occur in the northern parts of the following areas: the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland (including all of Greenland and Svalbard), Alaska, Canada and Russia.
Closer to home, fainter displays of the lights can regularly be seen from Scotland. During periods of “solar maximum”, as now, they have been viewed from southern England.
When to go
Displays of the lights are notoriously unpredictable and cannot be forecast in advance. In the northern hemisphere, the aurora season runs from late September or early October to late March. The lights may be seen at any time during this period, but late October, November, February and March are the best bets.
When to go
Displays of the lights are notoriously unpredictable and cannot be forecast in advance. In the northern hemisphere, the aurora season runs from late September or early October to late March. The lights may be seen at any time during this period, but late October, November, February and March are the best bets.
Displays are governed by an 11-year cycle and are at their most dramatic during times of high solar activity, such as now, but sightings can be recorded at any time. It is impossible to guarantee a viewing even during a period of “solar maximum”; if the sky is cloudy, the lights will be concealed.
The Aurora Borealis are normally only visible from the Arctic and Antarctic regions, but a mass injection of particles from the sun earlier this week meant that it was possible to see them from the UK.
They were not as strong as expected last night, but scientists are predicting a much clearer view this evening.
The natural light display is created when atoms in Earth's atmosphere hit the sun’s particles, which are charged with electricity.
US organisation the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an 85 per cent chance of activity tonight.
Faint displays of the lights can regularly be seen from Scotland, but is rare to be able to see them in southern England.
Alan Thomson from the British Geological Survey said that people could even be able to see the lights from built-up areas such as London, suggesting that it was “unlikely” but still “possible”.
The last time the lights were so clearly visible in southern England was 151 years ago.
However, Professor Jim Wild, professor of space physics at Lancaster University, predicted that it is more likely that people in Scotland will be able to see the lights as the magnetic field which pushes the aurora south needs to be in a more favourable position.
Weather conditions will be key this evening, with clear skies needed to be able to see the lights.
Experts are advising those who want to see the lights to head for higher ground away from urban areas to avoid light pollution and look for somewhere with a good view of the northern horizon.
What are the Northern Lights?
Displays of the Northern Lights occur when solar particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere and on impact emit burning gases that produce different coloured lights (oxygen produces green and yellow; nitrogen blue). The scientific term for the lights is the aurora borealis (named after the Roman goddess of the dawn). A similar spectacle in the southern hemisphere is known as the aurora australis.
Where can you see them?
The aurora borealis occurs in an oval doughnut-shaped area located above the magnetic pole. The best sightings are within the “doughnut” (rather than at the pole itself), and away from artificial light and moonlight.
The oval rotates with the sun, and it may grow and shrink in size considerably in only a matter of hours. The most spectacular displays occur in the northern parts of the following areas: the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland (including all of Greenland and Svalbard), Alaska, Canada and Russia.
Closer to home, fainter displays of the lights can regularly be seen from Scotland. During periods of “solar maximum”, as now, they have been viewed from southern England.
When to go
Displays of the lights are notoriously unpredictable and cannot be forecast in advance. In the northern hemisphere, the aurora season runs from late September or early October to late March. The lights may be seen at any time during this period, but late October, November, February and March are the best bets.
When to go
Displays of the lights are notoriously unpredictable and cannot be forecast in advance. In the northern hemisphere, the aurora season runs from late September or early October to late March. The lights may be seen at any time during this period, but late October, November, February and March are the best bets.
Displays are governed by an 11-year cycle and are at their most dramatic during times of high solar activity, such as now, but sightings can be recorded at any time. It is impossible to guarantee a viewing even during a period of “solar maximum”; if the sky is cloudy, the lights will be concealed.
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