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Brits who missed Northern Lights set to get another chance at seeing them tonight according to experts

Home> News> UK News

Published 12:19 12 May 2024 GMT+1

Brits who missed Northern Lights set to get another chance at seeing them tonight according to experts

The Northern Lights have been spotted across the UK thanks to a solar storm

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

If you're anything like me and slept through last night's Northern Lights, then there's still chance for you to see them again.

On Friday (10 May), thousands of people were lucky enough to set their eyes on the magical phenomena that is the Northern Lights.

They didn't have to jet to countries such as Iceland or Sweden to see them though; instead the Northern Lights came to us here in the UK.

The lights were first spotted in the UK on Friday, and returned to our skies in some parts of the UK again last night (11 May).

Fear not if you've missed them on both occasions though, as there could be chance to see them again this evening.

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Channel 4 weather presenter Liam Dutton tweeted this morning: "Geomagnetic activity will increase again today, however, as with last night, peak activity may not coincide with darkness."

Northern Lights seen in Glasgow, Scotland, on 11 May (Ahmet Fevzi Arican/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Northern Lights seen in Glasgow, Scotland, on 11 May (Ahmet Fevzi Arican/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The weather might not be as permitting for Northern Lights viewing, however.

"There’ll also be much more cloud around tonight, with clear spells limited," continued Dutton. "So, the chances of spotting the aurora borealis will be reduced somewhat."

As to why we've been able to see them from Britain of late, it's down to the combination of clear skies and enhanced activity from the sun reaching Earth, according to the Met Office.

In regards to the science behind the aurora, they come as a result of solar storms on our star's surface that give out huge clouds of electrically charged particles.

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These then travel millions of miles, with some eventually colliding with Earth.

Royal Observatory astronomer Tom Kerss further explained: "These particles then slam into atoms and molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere and essentially heat them up.

"We call this physical process ‘excitation’, but it’s very much like heating a gas and making it glow."

The Northern Lights have been visible in England of late (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
The Northern Lights have been visible in England of late (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

If you're hoping to try spot the Northern Lights again tonight, there are some ways that could boost your chances of seeing the beautiful phenomena.

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One is to look towards the northern horizon because 'the aurora is drawn towards the polar regions of the Earth', while it's also a good idea to get your cameras out as the technology can sometimes capture it better than our eyes.

Another good idea is opt to go to dark and open spaces were light pollution won't prohibit your chances of seeing the lights.

Good luck!

Featured Image Credit: LADbible/PA

Topics: Weather, Science, UK News, News

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

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@NiamhShackleton

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