![]() ![]() ![]() Particularly strong solar storms can result in the lights being seen in Scotland and northern England, though most aurora activity occurs within the oval hence its designation. The map graphic shown here is indicative of where the aurora are most visible, but they can appear at lower latitudes. ![]() It encompasses latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees and takes in Iceland, northern parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia, Canada and Alaska as well as southern Greenland. The northern lights most commonly occur within the geographic area beneath the auroral oval. During optimum configuration, which occurs during the equinoxes, “magnetic cracks” open up that let solar particles in setting off an auroral storm cycle, which in turn creates a higher probability of northern lights. Why is aurora activity stronger around the equinoxes?ĭue to the axial tilt, as the earth moves around the sun the angle of our magnetic fields relative to the magnetic field of the solar wind change. Between 4am and 5pm there is generally too much daylight to see the aurora – exceptions are the darkest months of the year and higher latitudes such Svalbard, where it is dark 24/7 from mid-Nov to end of Jan.The strongest lights tend to appear between 9pm and 2am, though the best sightings often occur between 11pm and midnight.November through to February offer the darkest skies and longer evenings for maximum sky-gazing.Spring and autumn generally provide more stable weather conditions and milder temperatures plus there is greater aurora activity around the equinoxes.While they occur year round they are weaker than sunlight and therefore sightings aren’t possible from May to July and for most of August. The aurora borealis are potentially visible under dark skies from late August to mid-April preferably under a clear, cloudless sky. Interestingly, the northern and southern lights, or aurora australis, occur simultaneously but the inverse seasons mean they generally aren’t visible at the same time. They usually occur between 60 and 75 degrees of latitude, which covers northern parts of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska and Russia as well as all of Iceland. These magnetic fields create auroral ovals around the top and bottom of our planet which move and distort as the earth rotates and solar flare activity increases. This occurs around the Polar Regions where those magnetic fields converge. The northern lights and their counterpart in the southern hemisphere appear when highly charged solar wind particles flowing from the sun collide with air molecules in the earth’s atmosphere transferring their energy into light. It’s said the term was first coined by Galileo in 1623 and is derived from ‘Aurora’, the goddess of the dawn and ‘Boreas’, the northern wind personified. Ideally, the lights will be best viewed away from any light pollution, in remote areas, facing the northern horizon - north facing coasts produce some of the best viewing locations.The northern lights are also known as the aurora borealis, meaning light of dawn. The Met Office added: "Cloud cover ultimately blocks the view of the light. It is recommended to seek out a location with minimal light pollution and a clear view of the northern horizon for the best chance of seeing them. However, they could be visible much further south than usual this week.ĭuring a strong geomagnetic storm, it is possible for the Northern Lights to be visible further south, including in London. The Northern Lights are generally visible at high latitudes close to the Arctic Circle, which is why they are more commonly seen in Scotland and other parts of northern England. It is possible to see the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, in London but it is extremely rare. However, the Met Office said under severe space weather conditions, the lights can be seen throughout the UK. The best conditions to view the lights are when the sky is dark and clear of any clouds and mostly in Northern areas of the UK. Today, they remain a popular tourist attraction, and many people travel to northern regions during the winter months to witness this breathtaking natural spectacle. The Northern Lights have fascinated people for centuries, with various cultures attributing them to myths and legends. Typically, countries closer to the Arctic Circle are best known for experiencing this spectacle. The formation of the 'curtains' of light is due to the lines of force in the Earth's magnetic field. This collision causes colourful streaks of light to dance in the sky, often in shades of green and purple. The Aurora Borealis, also called the Northern Lights, is a stunning natural phenomenon that results from atoms and molecules in our atmosphere colliding with particles from the Sun. ![]()
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