Some very fortunate folk could soon be ticking a coveted item off their bucket list as the Met Office has revealed that the Northern Lights could shine above the UK this weekend. Space weather prediction centres are keeping an eye on an expected increase in solar activity that could cause a rather dazzling display in certain parts of the country.
Why could the Northern Lights be visible from the UK?
We have an eruption of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) to thank for our increased chances of feasting our eyes on aurora borealis this weekend. Earlier this week, the sun unleased a rather powerful solar explosion of CMEs (which is basically a big old expulsion of plasma and magnetic fields that travel at around 2 million miles per hour). The Met Office has reported that there are currently three CMEs heading in the direction of Earth – and that an elevated window for geomagnetic storms could increase the likelihood of auroral activity.
When could the Northern Lights be visible in the UK?
According to the Met Office, the CMEs ‘have the potential to arrive at Earth’ on October 9, 10, and 11, but there is ‘significant uncertainty’ regarding the times at which they could arrive. On the whole, the Northern Lights are best seen at night, when it’s dark and the sky is clear of clouds.
So, luckily for us, over the next few nights there’s a chance that the Northern Lights will be visible from Scotland and northern England. To heighten your chances of catching a glimpse of aurora, head to an unobstructed open space with minimal light pollution, and remember that they often appear brighter through a camera lens.
