The Northern Lights are set to dazzle UK skies once again tonight, offering an increidble sight for many people. A rare red alert has been issued today as intense solar activity is set to make the Northern Lights visible to the naked eye and cameras across much of the UK this evening. AuroraWatch UK has issued a red alert meaning, the chances of seeing the aurora is “highly likely”.
According to the service run by scientists from Lancaster University’s Department of Physics, a red alert means “it is likely that aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK”. Following a strong solar storm and a significant coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun, the experts are predicting widespread aurora visibility.
The phenomenon was already spotted in Scotland last night as the solar storm intensified.
The Met Office said there is a possibility for this to be seen again tonight while also stating that there are increased chances of being able to see it more in the northern areas of the UK.
While the Met Office said the peak was last night, it has also said that some areas of the UK could see the Northern Lights again tonight: “A coronal mass ejection (CME) arrived at Earth in the late afternoon on April 15th.
“Its associated effects may continue into Wednesday night and may bring aurora to far northern parts of the UK and similar geomagnetic latitudes.
“The auroral oval will ease to background levels thereafter.”
Experts say that with the sun entering a particularly active phase of its solar cycle, we could be in for an exciting rest of the year with even more of these types of displays to be expected.
The best time to see this incredible display is usually between 9pm and 2am, with the peak likely to be around 11pm to midnight.
Northern Lights form when charged particles from the Sun collide with Earth’s atmospheric gases, causing them to emit these colourful rays of lights.