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What are the Northern Lights? What are the Northern Lights?
(35 minutes later)
The Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights have been illuminating the skies across the UK - from Orkney to south Wales. But what are they and why do they happen? The Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights have been illuminating the skies across the UK - from Orkney to Jersey. But what are they and why do they happen?
It is, in fact, all down to our relationship with the Sun.It is, in fact, all down to our relationship with the Sun.
How the Aurora Borealis occurHow the Aurora Borealis occur
Where could they be seen?Where could they be seen?
A particularly large and fast eruption on the Sun's surface on 25 February meant the Aurora could be seen further south than usual a few days later.A particularly large and fast eruption on the Sun's surface on 25 February meant the Aurora could be seen further south than usual a few days later.
"When the sun has a major geomagnetic event, the flux of particles is so high that they can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere at lower latitudes, which is why in England it is only after these storms that we can see the lights," says the University of Lancaster's Professor Mike Kosch."When the sun has a major geomagnetic event, the flux of particles is so high that they can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere at lower latitudes, which is why in England it is only after these storms that we can see the lights," says the University of Lancaster's Professor Mike Kosch.
Maps from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center show how far the Northern Lights were expected to be seen overnight on Thursday.Maps from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center show how far the Northern Lights were expected to be seen overnight on Thursday.
Aurora forecast for 27 FebruaryAurora forecast for 27 February
Image courtesy of NOAAImage courtesy of NOAA
But in fact, people reported seeing the lights much further south than predicted - including Gloucestershire, Essex and Norfolk. But in fact, people reported seeing the lights much further south than predicted - including Gloucestershire, Essex, Norfolk and Jersey.
To increase the chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis, scientists advise viewers to sign up to an alert service and head outside at "magnetic midnight" - between 8pm and 12am in the UK - to find a dark place with no light pollution.To increase the chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis, scientists advise viewers to sign up to an alert service and head outside at "magnetic midnight" - between 8pm and 12am in the UK - to find a dark place with no light pollution.