Recent solar conditions have resulted in aurora borealis sightings being reported much farther away from the usual vantage points. This past weekend even saw some people glimpsing the Northern Lights near London!
Fittingly to their name, the lights were spotted some ways north of London. Last night saw reports of sightings in Norfolk and North Lincolnshire. Word of these sightings came from the Aurora UK group on Facebook, where group members shared their own photos and reports of the sight.
Up in Norfolk, the Northern Lights saw colours briefly appearing in the sky before the moon’s bright light reduced visibility.
Will we be able to see the Northern Lights?
The conditions that caused the aurora borealis sightings last night will continue tonight, through to Wednesday, March 28. However, the prime places for Northern Light viewing will be across northern parts of the UK. According to the Met Office:
An active period given the combination of a HSS (High Speed Stream) and a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) arrival during the past weekend. This will probably give further southward enhancement of the auroral oval with overnight visible aurora likely for Scotland and Northern Ireland and perhaps further south across England and Wales. The probability for enhancement reducing for Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
So… what does all that actually mean?
If you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland – you have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights tonight (again). That does, however, depend on the weather conditions. The Met Office isn’t particularly optimistic about that chance, though, given the current forecast for Scotland:
“Despite some residual enhancement of geomagnetic activity into the the evening of the 25th March, cloudy conditions across much of Scotland causes any aurora sightings to be unlikely.”
There is a very small possibility of visibility across more southern portions of England and Wales. So if you really want to try and see them you can cross your fingers and keep your eyes peeled, but your best bet is to hop on the train, or in the car, and head northward!
However, it’s worth noting that Northern Light visibility is at its best when there is little moonlight. And tonight will be a full moon… So your chances of seeing the aurora borealis tonight are sadly slim indeed.
Find out more about space weather phenomena, and possible aurora borealis viewings, at the Met Office site.
