Sky-gazers in parts of the UK may be treated to a display of the northern lights on Thursday night as solar winds race towards Earth at about one million miles per hour. People in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland may have the best chance to view the colourful aurora which is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
The charged particles are a result of a phenomenon known as coronal mass ejection – which is sudden release of plasma from the sun’s corona, the outermost part of its atmosphere. The Met Office has said the northern lights will be visible at night from July 6 to July 8, clear skies permitting.
A spokesman said: “The northern lights may be enhanced overnight tonight with the arrival of a coronal mass ejection. They’re most likely to reach Scotland, parts of northern England and Northern Ireland. However, visibility may be poor for many, with cloud and rain for many in those regions overnight, as well as only a short window where it’s dark enough as we’re in summer.”
