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Missed the Northern Lights? There’s ANOTHER chance to see aurora borealis tonight in some parts of the UK
Dazzling display wowed skygazers as far south as Sussex last night
BRITS might have a second chance to spot the Northern Lights in some parts tonight.
Last night, the rarely seen phenomenon was glimpsed from Scotland all the way to the South Coast with reports in Sussex.
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Northern Lights - technically known as aurora borealis - have increased this year due to the peak of the Sun's 11-year cycle.
During its peak, called solar maximum, the Sun releases coronal mass ejections (CME) which causes the green and pink display.
And there is a slim opportunity to see the Northern Lights again tonight.
However, this will be limited to Scotland.
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And unfortunately, poor weather conditions could ruin chances of seeing it.
"Another CME arrival overnight Friday into Saturday brings a chance of further visible aurora to northern areas of the UK, primarily Scotland," the Met Office website reads.
Stephen Dixon, Met Office spokesman, told the Sun: "While auroras are possible over Scotland in the early hours of Saturday morning, cloud cover and rain will likely obscure visibility for the vast majority."
There will be another opportunity but weather may once again cause issues.
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"There remains a chance of some slight geomagnetic activity on Sunday and Monday night, which could bring potential auroras to the north of Scotland, but cloud will once again likely be a factor in any visibility for the public," he added.
It comes during a period of heightened solar activity, which is expected to cause a 23-year-high in terms of Northern Lights sightings but also radio blackouts.
Northern Lights to be visible in Scotland tonight
Auroras – how do they work?
Here's the official explanation from Nasa...
- The dancing lights of the auroras provide spectacular views on the ground, but also capture the imagination of scientists who study incoming energy and particles from the sun
- Auroras are one effect of such energetic particles, which can speed out from the sun both in a steady stream called the solar wind and due to giant eruptions known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs
- After a trip toward Earth that can last two to three days, the solar particles and magnetic fields cause the release of particles already trapped near Earth, which in turn trigger reactions in the upper atmosphere in which oxygen and nitrogen molecules release photons of light
- The result: the Northern and Southern lights.
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