Northern Lights to stun in UK skies tonight: Best time to see them - and what to expect from geomagnetic storm
The same event that causes the dazzling display could also trigger a big geomagnetic storm ☁
- The Northern Lights may be visible across much more of the UK than usual on Wednesday night
- But forecasters say they could be accompanied by a ‘severe’ to ‘extreme’ geomagnetic storm
- These aren’t dangerous, but can interfere with radio, GPS and occasionally transformers
- To spot the spectacular lightshow, you’ll have to get lucky with the weather
Parts of the country were treated to a dazzling aurora display on Tuesday night – but forecasters say more is still to come.
The Met Office’s space weather department is predicting northern lights activity this week which may be visible from much further south than usual. It’s the result of a trio of big bursts of plasma from the sun, the aftermath of which is just reaching us – and may even trigger a geomagnetic storm.
In case you’re wondering what exactly is going on up there, we’ve checked out what space experts have to say; from the stormy side effects to how aspiring aurora spotters can maximise their chances of catching a glimpse. Here’s what you need to know:
Why is the aurora appearing in UK skies this week?
Three big coronal mass ejections (CME) from the Sun are just reaching the Earth this week, with two arriving on Tuesday night (November 11), and one set for Wednesday night (November 12). These are big bursts of plasma released from the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere, which then shoots outwards at millions of kilometres per hour.
They interact with our planet’s magnetic field when they reach us, which can produce brilliant northern lights displays. This is because the charged particles “excite” molecules in our atmosphere when they collide with them, which experts at the British Geological Survey say causes them to burn off that extra energy in the form of light.
This is also why the lights can be different colours – because our atmosphere is made up of different kinds of molecules, like oxygen and nitrogen.
What is a geomagnetic storm – and is it dangerous?
The Met Office has put a G4 to G5 geomagnetic storm watch in place from Wednesday noon through to midnight on Thursday, with storms of this classification considered ‘severe’ or ‘extreme’ respectively.
In the UK, there generally isn’t expected to be much of an impact even when they reach this level, and they won’t hurt you. Potential impacts could be high and low frequency radio disruption, as well as interference with GPS satellite-based navigation. In very extreme cases, transformers may potentially be damaged – leading to localised power cuts.
Geomagnetic storms are powerful disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by activity on the Sun, Met Office experts say. More specifically, they are triggered by bursts of charged particles called ‘solar wind’ or CMEs, which flow outwards from the Sun and eventually reach and disturb our magnetosphere, the “protective magnetic bubble surrounding our planet”.
How to give yourself the best chance of seeing the northern lights
The upside of these geomagnetic disturbances is that we’re more likely to see the northern lights in our skies, potentially spanning the whole country. The Met Office says that this “enhanced” aurora may last through to Thursday morning.
It forecasts a visible aurora across parts of the northern UK – as well as other parts of the world at similar latitudes. There is also a chance of sightings further south across England and Wales, though it warned that cloud cover is “expected to inhibit ideal viewing conditions for many”.
The Met Office’s cloud cover map currently predicts heavy bands of cloud covering much of the country well into the evening, particularly Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, and some of England’s northern regions. But these are expected to clear in Scotland’s far north, England’s south east, and over Wales and the English midlands at various points through to Thursday morning, so it’s definitely worth checking back in on local conditions.
If the clouds cooperate, BGS says that to have the best chance of seeing the aurora you’ll need to wait until it gets dark – which is thankfully quite early this time of year. They will be most visible in very dark skies, so try to choose a site as far away from street lights and other competing light sources as you can.
The ‘northern lights’ moniker may have tipped you off, but you should also try to have a clear view to the north. Generally, it says that they are most visible from 10pm to 2am. If you can’t see them with your naked eye, you can try looking through your phone or a camera – both of which are much more sensitive.
The night sky has a unique power to capture our imagination – and our attention. Check out this story to find out more about one interesting poll, exploring how people across the UK say moon phases affect their sleep.