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UK Skies to Dazzle with Northern Lights Tonight!
22 Mar
Summary
- Northern Lights visible in UK for second night.
- Auroras caused by solar explosions called CMEs.
- Lights visible as far south as Norfolk on Friday.
Britain's skies are poised for another captivating display of the Northern Lights on Saturday night. This follows spectacular views experienced across parts of the UK overnight on Friday. The aurora borealis, a phenomenon rarely seen this far south, requires significant geomagnetic storms to shift the aurora belt from its usual locations near the Arctic Circle.
On Friday night, the lights were visible as far south as Norfolk, a rare occurrence for the region. Forecasters from the Met Office indicated that similar sightings might be possible again on Saturday night, potentially lasting until midnight. Clear skies are crucial for viewing.
The Northern Lights are a result of massive solar explosions, specifically coronal mass ejections (CMEs). When particles from these CMEs collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere, they create a colorful light show. This natural spectacle can illuminate the sky in reds, blues, and pinks, occurring at altitudes of 100 to 200 km.
While the primary viewing areas remain the higher latitudes, recent CMEs and expected increases in solar wind speed are maintaining enhanced geomagnetic activity. This increases the likelihood of auroral visibility further south, though cloud cover will significantly limit views. Any enhanced auroral visibility is expected to decrease slowly.
