Always wanted to see the northern lights but don’t fancy trekking up to the Arctic? You’re in luck. The UK is currently witnessing tonnes of geomagnetic activity. Back in May the lights were seen up and down the land, from Scotland to Cornwall, and even in London – which is usually too far south and has too much light pollution. And tonight (July 24) something similar could happen again.
Aurora borealis (as the lights are otherwise known) is more commonly seen in far northern parts of the country like Scotland and Northern Ireland. Nationwide displays are a very rare occurrence indeed, as are sightings in northern England. A plume of plasma released by the Sun (also known as a coronal mass ejection, CME) has arrived, making sightings likely this evening.
Want to get a glimpse of the fabled phenomenon? Fret not. We’ve got all the info right here to give you the best chances of seeing the dancing illuminations. Below is everything you need to know about spotting aurora borealis here in the UK.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights generally appear in high latitude regions such as the Arctic or Scandinavia.
Their colourful glow is caused by a stream of charged particles that have escaped the sun (known as solar wind) interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. The particles hit our atmosphere at high speed and combine with oxygen and nitrogen to create a multicoloured burst. A green glow is associated with oxygen while nitrogen causes the appearance of purple, blue and pink.
How to see the northern lights in the UK
Tonight the borealis will be visible as far south as England – as well as across huge sections of the USA (and even as far south as New York). The celestial display (caused by a ‘direct hit’ of CME) is expected to last until midnight BST.
The northern lights are often visible to the naked eye throughout much of Scotland. The further north you go, the better your chances. Southern areas of Scotland, England and Wales are also sometimes able to catch sight of the aurora, though typically only in rural areas with little light pollution.
Want to see the phenomenon? Conditions in the sky need to be as clear and cloud-free as possible. Try to find a dark location with as little light pollution as possible. For optimum viewing, face the northern horizon.
What’s the best time to see the aurora?
The lights are viewable after dark (check your local sunset/sunrise times for exact timings). The best sightings are usually when the skies are darkest.
When will the northern lights be visible again?
The chance to see this wonder of nature doesn’t come around too often and the lights are notoriously hard to predict. Predictions change for different parts of the northern hemisphere, too. But it’s worth knowing the late September to mid-March is typically thought of as the best period to see the lights and is what some like to call ‘aurora season’.
To keep an eye on the lights’ activity you can look at the AuroraWatch website. Don’t fancy waiting around? Here’s our list of the best places in the world to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
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