Good evening. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, have made a stunning appearance across the UK recently, lighting up the night skies.
The best views were in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England on Thursday night, with some fainter sightings reaching as far south as Kent.
Thanks to clear skies and heightened solar activity, the northern lights put on a spectacular show in the Highlands and the Yorkshire Dales.
However, meteorologists suggest that while another chance to see the aurora exists tonight, it will likely be less intense.
Solar activity is high—capture the northern lights with a camera for the best view.Simon King, the lead BBC weather presenter, advised early Friday: “With solar activity still relatively high, keep an eye on the northern sky tonight.
For the best view, try to escape light pollution and use a camera or phone, which are more sensitive to the light than the human eye.”
Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, producing colorful light displays. These events are most common near the Arctic Circle but can spread further south during periods of high solar activity.
Looking ahead, sightings in Britain are expected to become more frequent in the coming years.
According to the Met Office, we are approaching the solar maximum, a peak in the sun’s 11-year activity cycle. As we near this maximum, the frequency of auroras and other space weather events is likely to increase.
Stay tuned for updates on this mesmerizing natural phenomenon and keep your eyes on the northern horizon tonight!