2025 has been a big year for northern lights sightings in the UK. The mesmerising spectacle has been spotted everywhere from Scotland and all the way down south in Cornwall, even appearing above London where there’s normally too much light pollution.
If you somehow missed all the displays that we’ve been treated to so far this year, you’ll have another chance this weekend. The Met Office has said that a strong geomagnetic storms could bring the aurora borealis to our skies this weekend. It’s issued a yellow alert lasting from 9pm on Thursday (November 6) until 11.59pm on Saturday, November 8.
If you want to maximise your chances of seeing the cosmic spectacle this weekend, here’s everything you need to know.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights are the result of geomagnetic storms. A stream of charged particles escape the sun (this is known as coronal mass ejection or CME) and interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The particles hit our atmosphere at several million kilometres per hour and combine with oxygen and nitrogen, triggering a geomagnetic storm and creating a multicoloured burst. A green glow is associated with oxygen while purple, blue or pink illuminations are associated with nitrogen.
When will the northern lights be visible in the UK?
According to the Met Office, strong geomagnetic activity is expected on Friday November 7 and Saturday November 8, creating a ‘visible aurora’.
Where will the northern lights be visible in the UK?
Provided conditions are good, the lights will be visible in Scotland and northern England and may even be seen as far south as Wales and central England.
The experts at the Met Office said: ‘The auroral oval is likely to become enhanced over the coming days, due to multiple glancing Coronal Mass Ejections alongside some fast solar winds. Aurora is likely to be visible from Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes Friday UTC.
‘There is also the chance of aurora extending further south, and being seen from Northern Ireland and northern England, and a slight chance of glimpses from Wales and central England, although confidence in this aspect is low.’
When’s the best time to see the northern lights?
There’ll be geomagnetic activity happening from 9pm on Friday until midnight on Saturday, but the best time to look up will be between 10pm and 2am when the sky is darkest.
Best places in the UK to see the northern lights
For an optimum sighting of the northern lights, find somewhere that has minimal light pollution, is high up and has an unobstructed view the northern horizon. You’re best bet would be to pack a blanket and warm drinks and head for your nearest Dark Sky Reserve, like South Downs National Park, Bannau Brycheiniog or Exmoor National Park.
See all the best places in the UK for stargazing here.
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