Visible over a large portion of the nation, the Northern Lights have made a magnificent return to the UK.
The renowned aurora has been seen this year in a few locations as far south as Brighton in the UK, yielding breath-taking images in the process.
The Northern Lights are a plethora of vibrant lights that resemble swirls, streamers, or curtains emerge in the sky. They can be violet, pink, blue, or green.
Viewings were predicted by the Met Office to be possible in the north of England and the Midlands, and they were expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
But far beyond this, for many Britons, they were seen, partly due to comparatively bright sky.
Will the Northern Lights be visible tonight?
It appears that we will be far less likely to view the Northern Lights tonight.The Met Office’s latest space weather forecast reads: “The chances of aurora remain initially, though gradually easing through October 11, becoming increasingly confined to far northern geomagnetic latitudes by October 13.”
The Northern Lights will be discouraged further by the weather.
The atmospheric weather forecast says we’ll see “rain across Scotland and Northern Ireland becoming more widespread through the night, although far north clearer with the odd wintry shower”.
These conditions aren’t ideal for viewing the Northern Lights.
Why are the Northern Lights so far south?
PBS News’ science correspondent Miles O'Brien summarised why the Northern Lights are visible further south.
The sun has a cycle of 11 years – where it goes from solar minimum to solar maximum.
He says that we've reached or are getting close to the maximum. And that indicates a significant rise in solar activity. Additionally, it shoots solar particles in our direction, which interact with the magnetic field in our atmosphere to excite and colour them – sometimes turning them green and red.
And because this is the time of year when more of this activity is expected to reach our area and it is reaching lower latitudes, we are witnessing stunning Northern Lights.
What are the best conditions to view the Northern Lights?
If you’re lucky enough to catch the Northern Lights in the UK, it needs to be a dark and clear night. Your chances are increased if you’re far from regions with light pollution.
Norway boasts some of the darkest skies in Europe and is a country under the auroral oval, so you’re almost guaranteed to catch the Northern Lights there, from late August to mid-April.
How have people in the UK reacted to the Northern Lights?
Many were ecstatic with the sights and jumped on X (previously Twitter) to share some of their excitement.
One user tweeted: “Last night, was just at in the front of TV as you do! when my other half's phone went crazy with some northern light data! Followed by checking Facebook to find, that people has started to see some in the sky! So a few hours of standing in a field later...”
Last night, was just at in the front of TV as you do! when my other half's phone went crazy with some northern light data!
— Brunton Media (@BruntonMedia) October 11, 2024
Followed by checking Facebook to find, that people has started to see some in the sky!
So a few hours of standing in a field later...#northernlights… pic.twitter.com/i8bmwUyTg9
While another user said: “Northern light was spotted at my sister house at UK just now, so beautiful.”
Northern light was spotted at my sister house at UK just now,so beautiful 💗 pic.twitter.com/Pteuuc7N0G
— ivylaw 🌝🌜✨ (@1104putri) October 11, 2024
A third added: “Northern Light tonight in the UK.”
Northern Light tonight in the UK #northernlights #Auroraborealis pic.twitter.com/3hhP0y2EIl
— Interstellar (@InterstellarUAP) October 10, 2024
