The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are set to be visible in the UK tonight after a red alert was issued. Here’s everything you need to know about the natural light display
British sky-watchers are in for a treat tonight as parts of the country are set to be lit up by the awe-inspiring Northern Lights, following a red alert announcement.
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is a natural light show in the Earth’s atmosphere, appearing as dancing waves or flowing curtains of colour, predominantly green, pink and red. These captivating colours have intrigued humans for centuries, and we now know they’re caused by charged particles from the Sun, known as solar winds, interacting with gases in our planet’s upper atmosphere, according to the Mirror.
Lancaster University has issued a red alert indicating a high likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights due to geomagnetic disturbances. A red alert means: “It is likely that aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK.”
The university’s data shows activity levels measured in nanotesla – the standard unit for magnetic field intensity – exceeding 200nT tonight.
The Met Office also confirms: “The arrival of a fast solar wind, are expected to bring some enhancement to the aurora through Saturday 18 Oct and Sunday 19 Oct UTC. The best chance of viewing is over Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes.”
The best spots to catch the Northern Lights are typically closer to the polar regions, thanks to Earth’s magnetic field directing particles towards the poles. Scotland, North England, North Wales and Northern Ireland usually offer the most spectacular views.
However, under extreme space weather conditions, the lights can be seen all over the UK.
If you’ve always dreamt of witnessing the Northern Lights and miss this opportunity, this winter could be your perfect chance. That’s because 2026 is predicted to be the best year in a decade for Aurora viewing opportunities, with January and February being the prime months.
Next year will bring about a once-in-a-decade phenomenon; the solar maximum. This rare event sees increased magnetic activity from the Sun, and scientists expect it to peak until March 2026, before subsiding again until the mid-2030s.
The fantastic news is that you don’t need to trek to the Arctic to try and spot the lights. There are several European destinations including Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland where you can observe the Aurora due to their proximity to the Arctic Circle.
The sun undergoes an 11-year solar cycle, with periods of intense activity followed by a quiet phase. During its active bursts, also known as solar maximum, the sun releases charged particles that travel through space at speeds of around one million miles per hour.
These particles are captured by Earth’s magnetic field and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. The energy gained from these collisions is then released by these atoms and molecules, emitting light at various wavelengths to create vibrant displays in the night sky.
According to Nasa, oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light – the most common colour of the aurora – or a red light, while nitrogen typically gives off a blue light. The oxygen and nitrogen molecules also emit ultraviolet light, which can only be detected by special cameras on satellites.
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