Sky-gazers in parts of the UK could catch a glimpse of the northern lights tonight (Thursday July 6) 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 a 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 tonight (July 6) to Saturday (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.
