OUR map reveals the exact areas where the aurora can be caught again tonight after Britain was treated to a spectacular solar storm.
The lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, were spotted across the UK on Friday, including Whitley Bay on the north-east coast, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Wokingham in Berkshire.
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Aurora Borealis seen over The Roaches near Leek, StaffordshireCredit: Reuters
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Visibility of the northern lights increased on Friday due to an ‘extreme’ geomagnetic stormCredit: Reuters
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The aurora borealis is seen as green and purple ribbons of lightCredit: Reuters
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A stunning light show overlooking St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East Coast Credit: PA
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Our chart shows where visibility will be best on Saturday night
They have also been spotted in Suffolk, Kent, Hampshire and Liverpool.
Sightings have reached as far as Ireland, with Irish weather service Met Eireann releasing images of the lights in Dublin and Shannon Airport in Co Clare.
Experts say Scotland and northern England will be the best places to see any upcoming aurora tonight.
Met Office maps show that visibility will begin around 9pm.
Meteorologist Craig Snell, from the National Weather Service, told The Sun that the best places would be isolated and away from the light pollution of big cities.
“As far north as you can go,” he said. “In the middle of nowhere, where nothing pollutes the sky. Somewhere in a very dark environment, in the countryside, in a country park.
“There may be some visibility in parts of the south. Activity tonight won’t be as strong as yesterday, it will be more difficult with just the naked eye, you might need a decent camera.”
He said that where he is in Exeter the lights can be seen on Friday, but he doesn’t expect to be so lucky tonight.
Mr Snell said even at good stands in the north the weather could affect that.
“There is a bit of cloud in Scotland and that could reduce visibility,” he explained.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon also told The Sun that shorter nights were “limiting visibility”, but said Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and Wales were likely to be seen.
Aurora could be visible across Scotland tonight as strongest geomagnetic storm to hit Earth in 20 years
He said there is also the potential for visibility Sunday night.
He said: “Geomagnetic activity on Friday night was very strong, reaching a strength last seen in the UK in 2003.
“This has resulted in some very colorful Aurora sightings across the UK with clear skies for many.”
Associate meteorologist Chris Snell said there were sightings “from top to bottom across the country” on Friday.
He said there were also sightings in parts of Europe on Friday night, with the Met Office receiving images and information from locations including Prague and Barcelona.
He advised that the peak time of visibility will be around 10.30pm to 11pm “when it really gets dark”.
Speaking about last night’s display, Kathleen Cunnea, in Great Horkesley, Essex, said: “It was absolutely stunning to see.”
Visibility of the Northern Lights has increased due to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NOAA said a G5 geomagnetic storm, considered the most extreme and strongest level of a geomagnetic storm, hit Earth on Thursday and could affect communications, GPS and power grids.
The cause of this storm is a “large, complex” group of sunspots and is 17 times the diameter of Earth, and the last G5 storm hit Earth in October 2003, causing a power outage in Sweden.
NOAA said the lights could be seen as far south as Alabama and southern California in the US.
He warned operators of power plants and orbiting spacecraft to take precautions, as did the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The photos also show lights in France, Turkey, the Netherlands, Russia, Denmark, Ukraine and Slovakia.
Auroras occur 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.
What are auroras?
Auroras occur 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.
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Lights could also be seen in LiverpoolCredit: PA
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A string of lights could be seen at Minster on Sea in KentCredit: Alamy
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Sky watchers in Kendal, Cumbria enjoy the amazing lightsCredit: Alamy
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View of the Aberystwyth War Memorial and the spectacular display of the Aurora BorealisCredit: Alamy
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The aurora borealis is seen over Northwood, North West LondonCredit: Alamy
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People in Aberystwyth had a spectacular display of the Aurora BorealisCredit: Alamy
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education