Last night, the skies across the UK and far beyond were illuminated by a breathtaking display of the Northern Lights, as a powerful burst of solar activity triggered one of the most widespread aurora events seen in recent years. As part of the much anticipated Aurora Nights phenomenon, shimmering greens, pinks and purples were visible across large parts of the country, delighting sky watchers from Scotland to southern England.
According to the BBC, the aurora borealis was spotted in areas where it is rarely seen, with social media flooded by photographs from locations including the Highlands, Northern Ireland, northern England and even parts of the Midlands and Wales. The BBC report explains that this exceptional visibility was caused by an intense geomagnetic storm sparked by solar eruptions earlier in the week. You can read the full BBC coverage here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q4pj5j729o
What caused last night’s Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. These particles are carried towards the polar regions by the planet’s magnetic field, where they release energy in the form of colourful light. Oxygen produces green and red tones, while nitrogen creates blues and purples.
Last night’s display was unusually strong due to heightened solar activity. Space weather monitoring website Spaceweather.com reported that Earth was hit by a fast moving coronal mass ejection, a large cloud of magnetised plasma released from the Sun. This caused geomagnetic conditions to intensify rapidly, pushing auroral activity much further south than normal.
Live updates and data can be found at https://www.spaceweather.com/
Aurora Nights brings rare views across the UK
Aurora Nights is becoming an increasingly talked about term as solar activity continues to rise during the current solar cycle. While the Northern Lights are typically associated with Arctic regions such as Norway, Iceland and northern Finland, strong geomagnetic storms can make them visible at much lower latitudes.
Spaceweather.com reported elevated K index levels throughout the night, indicating storm level conditions capable of producing auroras well beyond their usual range. This explains why people across the UK were able to witness the phenomenon, often with the naked eye, during clear breaks in the cloud.
For many observers, the lights appeared as faint arcs or milky green glows at first, becoming more vivid when viewed through long exposure photography. In darker rural areas, some reported seeing moving curtains and rippling patterns dancing across the sky, a rare treat for British stargazers.
Why these displays may become more frequent
Scientists note that the Sun is currently in an active phase of its approximately eleven year solar cycle. During periods of heightened activity, solar flares and coronal mass ejections become more common, increasing the likelihood of strong aurora displays.
While it is impossible to predict exact timings far in advance, space weather experts suggest that more Aurora Nights could occur over the coming months, particularly during autumn and winter when nights are longer and skies are darker.
How to spot the Northern Lights in the UK
To maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, experts recommend finding a dark location away from artificial light, with a clear view to the north. The best times are usually between late evening and the early hours of the morning.
Monitoring trusted sources such as Spaceweather.com and the BBC weather pages can help you stay informed about incoming solar activity and potential aurora alerts.
Last night’s remarkable Aurora Nights display served as a powerful reminder that even from the UK, we can occasionally witness one of nature’s most awe inspiring spectacles, created by the dynamic relationship between the Sun and our planet.
Photo credit: Kerry Williams East Lothian, Edinburgh
