LIGHTING UP
Northern Lights could be visible in UK skies TONIGHT – find out if your area will catch them
Clear spells could provide the perfect opportunity
THE Northern Lights could be visible in UK skies tonight, according to Met Office forecasts.
There is chance the rarely seen phenomenon will occur over parts of Scotland and the north of England.
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Clear spells across Scotland could provide the perfect opportunity to see the brilliant lights tonight.
The Northern Lights - technically known as aurora borealis - may also be visible on Wednesday evening.
The forecaster added that the enhanced aurora is likely to diminish into October 3.
The Met Office website reads: "The auroral oval is currently at background, with waning effects of a coronal hole fast wind.
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"There is a chance of enhanced auroral activity and aurora sightings across Scotland and similar latitudes into 02 Oct due to the possible arrival of the 29 Sep coronal mass ejection.
"A further CME induced aurora enhancement is possible on the 03 Oct."
The UK is south of where the natural aurora belt occurs.
It takes a severe or extreme geomagnetic storm to bring the belt southwards directly over the UK - this is a very rare occurrence.
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The Northern Lights can produce a spectacular light show sometimes seen as far south as Scotland, northern England and Ireland - if skies are clear.
The distance to the aurora belt, compounded by light pollution or twilight, means it can be difficult for the naked eye to see the phenomenon clearly.
Northern Lights seen glowing in the night sky as volcanic lava spews in incredible footage from Iceland
It is often portrayed much brighter in pictures than it appears to the naked eye.
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.
The phenomenon is known as the Solar Maximum, which typically comes around every 11 years or so.
This is when the Sun's activity reaches its peak, and produces more auroral displays.
There are currently up to nine sunspot regions on the side of the Sun that faces Earth.
Best locations to watch
This week's Northern Lights display is forecast to only be visible from northern parts of the UK.
But that's if the cloud coverage doesn't scupper the view for everyone.
Shetland Islands - Here, auroral displays are most visible between mid-October and March. But it's best to avoid the towns and their light pollution.
Eryri, Conwy - Llyn Geirionydd lake, close to the town of Betws-y-Coed, is a local-favourite viewing spot, with snow-capped peaks in the backdrop.
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Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk - This area was graced with bright aurora lights last year, namely in seaside towns Brancaster Staithe and Happisburgh.
Keswick, Cumbria - The Lake District is an over-the-radar spot for aurora hunters, but Derwentwater lake next to Keswick is a great place to photograph the lights.
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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