NORTHERN Lights may be visible from the UK and Northern Ireland tonight, according to the Met Office.
A minor radiation storm from a slowly growing sunspot on the northeast side of the Sun could just cause a dazzling display here on Earth.
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[/caption]
“Following a Coronal Mass Ejection (CMS) on Sunday, it is possible that there is a chance of visible aurora late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday,” Andrea Bishop, Met Office spokesperson, told The Sun.
“This may produce aurora for Scotland, and possibly Northern Ireland and northern England, but this is dependent on the strength and exact timing of arrival.”
A coronal mass ejection (CME) is forecast to give a “glancing blow” between 10 September and 11 September.
Stargazers across the country have caught the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, several times this year.
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.
The sunspot on the northeast side, which experts believe could cause Auroral lights tonight, has a neighbouring sunspot that has “undergone significant growth in the 24 hours,” according to Met Office analysis.
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.
Best locations to watch
This week’s Northern Lights display is forecast to only be visible from northern parts of the UK and Northern Ireland.
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.
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.
