.png)
Many of you will just have had one of the best chances you're ever going to get to see the Northern Lights.
Thousands of Brits turned out into the cold October night yesterday (10 October) and were rewarded with a dazzling display of lights dancing across the skyline in beautiful patterns.
Those who managed to see the Northern Lights, which were visible as far south as Kent, will have been spellbound by a phenomenon which has delighted, intrigued and at times terrified people throughout the ages.
Advert
For those of us who didn't get a chance to see them, better luck next time which incidentally might be this weekend if you're fortunate enough to be in Scotland.
If you don't have a time machine to hop back to last night and see them then you should know the best ways to better your chances of seeing the lights.
Pre-sight checks
You will look like an absolute ding-a-ling if you head out into the cold night to see something that's not even there, so first make sure the aurora borealis is actually going to be in your part of the country.
Advert
Do a spot of research, the Met Office will often say when and where the Northern Lights are visible and when they do we'll usually be on hand to tell you they've said it.
Embrace the countryside
Where there's people there's lights, and that means light pollution.
Advert
That'll absolutely ruin your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, so you need to get away from the bits of the country which are blaring their own beacons into the skies.
Last night with such good visibility of the lights even people living near cities were able to get a decent look, but in general you want to find a spot that's further away from all that pollution.
Cloudy with a chance of pain
It'd be a real bummer if everything aligned perfectly for you and then you couldn't see anything in the sky because it was so cloudy.
Advert
Use apps like Windy or Scope Nights to check your local cloud cover to see if you're going to have a problem.
What you don't want is low clouds as that'll get between you and the lights, high clouds shouldn't be too bad for your vision.
Check the sunset
Light and darkness exist in an intertwined state, so check what time the sun is setting in your area and plan accordingly.
Advert
You're not going to see them before sunset and you don't want to be sitting around doing nowt for ages when you could be enjoying an unforgettable luncheon or indulging in some isometric exercise.
Get your timings right and figure out when you should be popping out to see the lights (it could even be this time of year, at this time of day, localised entirely in your kitchen).
Calibrate your camera lens
The best chance of seeing the Northern Lights is actually through a camera.
As much as you might want to get a good sighting with your eyes alone a properly adjusted camera will give you the best chance.
If you figure out the right settings then a visual delight may be your reward, and you can make everyone jealous with all the pictures you've taken.
For those of you with an iPhone, switch on the camera's Night Mode as it'll help capture the moment.
Joe Harker