Why could we see the stunning Northern Lights across the UK last night?

People across the UK were treated to a rare and breathtaking display of the Northern Lights on Thursday night.

The aurora borealis, typically visible in northern regions, filled the sky with vibrant green and pink hues, reaching as far south as parts of England in an unusual sight.

While Scotland and northern parts of the UK often experience the aurora, it is rare for such a vivid display to be visible so far south. The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, emitting light in various wavelengths and creating these spectacular colors. This phenomenon is typically seen over high polar latitudes but can extend further south during geomagnetic storms.

These aurora displays are influenced by solar activity, particularly geomagnetic storms caused by coronal mass ejections (CME) from the sun. Thursday night’s display was triggered by a severe solar storm that followed an intense solar flare earlier in the day.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA had issued a warning earlier on Thursday, predicting the severe geomagnetic storm caused by the CME.

A Met Office spokesperson commented on the recent frequency of such events, stating there had been “more space weather events in recent months,” as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, known as the solar maximum. During this time, sunspot activity increases, raising the chances of CMEs that can enhance aurora visibility across wider regions.

This rare and stunning display was made possible by the powerful solar activity and provided an extraordinary sight for many who don’t often witness the aurora in the UK.