The Met Office has told Brits to expect a ‘real possibility’ of aurora borealis sightings tonight
Aurora Borealis could dazzle across the UK tonight(Image: Getty Images)
Sky watchers across the UK could be treated to a spectacular, colourful night sky display as the Northern Lights are set to appear further south than usual.
It comes as two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – explosions of charged particles from the Sun – are set to collide with Earth, forming a rare and more powerful ‘cannibal solar storm’.
When these particles are captured by the Earth’s magnetic field they can collide with gas molecules in the atmosphere in an event called a geomagnetic storm. Light is emitted from these collisions at various wavelengths, forming spectacular colourful displays in the sky.
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are typically only visible from northern latitudes, but the Met Office has said ‘significant enhancement of the auroral oval is likely’ in the coming days.
Brits are in with a chance of spotting visible aurora in the UK on Monday night (September 1), possibly continuing until September 3.
The aurora borealis could soon be visible in UK skies(Image: Getty Images)
The Met Office said in a blog post: “With the arrival of this CME, the Met Office expects that at the peak of geomagnetic activity, there is a chance aurora may be visible across much of the UK.
“Notably, these displays may be visible to the naked eye, without the need for photographic equipment, which is relatively rare for locations this far south in the UK. The best chance of seeing the aurora remains in the north of the UK.”
Visible aurora could reach as far south as East Anglia, the Midlands, Wales tonight, where skies are dark and clear, the Met Office says.
Aurora maps show significant activity at around midnight tonight (September 1-2)(Image: The Met Office)
Its aurora maps suggest the best time to catch a view of the Northern Lights tonight is between 9pm on September 1 and midnight, with visibility possible until around 3am on September 2.
Krista Hammond, Met Office Space Weather Manager, said: “As we monitor the arrival of this coronal mass ejection, there is a real possibility of aurora sightings further south than usual on Monday night.
“While the best views are likely further north, anyone with clear, dark skies should keep an eye out. Forecasts can change rapidly, so we encourage the public to stay updated with the latest information.”
While there is some cloud in the forecast on Monday night, the Met Office says the Midlands is most likely to have clear skies.
If cloud interrupts your aurora viewing tonight, there is a chance of more Northern Lights activity on Tuesday night (September 2), northern Scotland and northern England likely to have the clearest skies.