Vivid auroras were spotted across Europe on Tuesday evening and, weather permitting, the same could happen tonight
Tonight’s aurora forecast. (Image:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
A rare and powerful solar storm is set to hit Earth today and it has the potential to disrupt communications, GPS and power networks.
The so-called ‘cannibal storm’ could be one of the biggest witnessed in the last 20 years and if fortunate, Ireland could be treated to spectacular display of the Northern Lights.
Vivid auroras were spotted across Europe on Tuesday evening and, weather permitting, the same could happen tonight.
In the United Kingdom, the British Geological Survey (BGS) upgraded the forecast to its highest level and confirmed it had already interfered with satellite navigation.
The BGS has said that people living in the north of Ireland have a good chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights tonight.
Met Eireann has been asked for comment.
What causes the Northern Lights?
According to Met Eireann: “The Northern Lights (or ‘aurora borealis’ in the northern hemisphere) are the results of collisions between gas particles in our atmosphere and charged particles ejected from the Sun’s atmosphere.
“The colour of the Northern Lights will change due to the type of gas particles that are colliding. Oxygen molecules at approximately 100km above the earth produce a greenish-yellow colour while, while a red aurora can be seen when high level oxygen molecules are involved. Blue or purple auroras indicate the presence of nitrogen molecules.”
What are the best weather conditions for seeing the Northern Lights?
Weather experts at Met Eireann emphasise that stargazers are most likely to enjoy a sight of the Northern Lights when the skies are clear and free of cloud cover.
“The Northern Lights are best observed in locations with very small amounts of light pollution. Parts of the west and north coast would offer the greatest chance of seeing the display,” say Met Eireann.
What are the best camera settings for photographing the Northern Lights?
If all you have is a smartphone, the experts at Visit Norway (where there are frequent displays of the Northern Lights) recommend you download a good photography app that allows you to change the settings of your phone’s camera function.
You should also avoid using a flash, make sure you are in a dark place away from street lights and it’s also recommended you use a tripod or object to steady your phone.
In order to capture the Northern Lights you should make sure you use a timer to delay the shot – that way you avoid disturbing the phone.
If you are using a compact camera or SLR, it’s advised you start off with aperture f/2.8, ISO 1600 (increase if it’s very dark) and a 15 second shutter speed.
What is the weather forecast for tonight?
Met Eireann says: “Tonight will remain cloudy and wet as that band of showery rain continues to move northwards over the country. It will become drier further south later on in the night with just isolated showers. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees in light to moderate, variable winds.”
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