THIS is the exact time you could see the aurora borealis tonight – after the Met Office issued a “90% chance” warning.
The Northern Lights could be visible again in parts of the UK tonight after the rare phenomenon was spotted last week.
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Aurora over the Avebury Stones in Wiltshire last weekCredit: David White/pictureexclusive.com
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A dazzling display over Bingham in Nottinghamshire Credit: Alamy
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Map showing where the northern lights can be seen tonight Credit: Met office
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Scotland and Northern Ireland are the best places to see the aurora
Also known as the aurora borealis, bands of pink and green light have been seen across the UK and parts of Europe.
An “extreme” geomagnetic storm made them visible far below the Arctic Circle, US government experts said.
Now the Met Office says the Northern Lights could return at 9pm tonight.
A “red alert” has been issued – meaning the aurora could be visible to the eye and camera from anywhere in the UK.
What are aurora borealis
AURORA displays are created when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.
In the Northern Hemisphere, most of this activity occurs within a band known as the auroral oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.
When the activity is strong, it expands to cover a larger area – which explains why displays can occasionally be seen as far south as the UK.
Visibility of the Northern Lights increased on Friday due to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The phenomenon appears as beautiful dancing green and purple ribbons of light that have captivated people for millennia.
The footage shows an “enhancement” that increases the chances of Britons seeing the vivid display at 9pm in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
There is a small chance that people in northern England and northern Wales will also see the aurora borealis.
The aurora borealis will die down overnight – but forecasters won’t rule out a sighting later this week.
Auroras occur when charged particles emitted from sunspots collide with Earth’s atmosphere around the poles.
Met Office space expert Krista Hammond said: “We’re at solar maximum right now and we’re seeing more sunspots.
“The Sunspot region will return to Earth facing the Sun.
“If we see more sunspots, we’ll see an increased frequency of space weather, and thus an aurora.”
Met Office aurora forecast in full
On the night from Sunday to Monday, no significant weather activity is expected in space, and the appearance of the aurora borealis is unlikely.
An increase in the aurora could occur tonight following the possible arrival of the coronal mass ejection that left the sun late Friday.
After the arrival of the CME, the aurora may become visible, where the sky is clear, in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
There is a small chance that northern England and North Wales will also be able to see the aurora.
After that, auroral activity is expected to decline, although the reliability is lower than usual.
Occasionally, a slight enhancement of the aurora cannot be ruled out.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education