You can track the Northern Lights to find out what time they are likely to be most visible and choose a location with as little light pollution as possible for the best experience
Northern Lights last night. Image: Vinny Fanneran(Image: )
Ireland was treated to a spectacular showing of the Northern Lights last night, and there is a chance that they may be visible in our skies again tonight.
Images have been flooding social media of the bright red and green waves which filled the night sky last night, and tonight, we may be able to see them again as high levels of geomagnetic storming are possible. The Northern Lights occur almost every night of the year in the Arctic area, but in Ireland, we only have a small chance of seeing them due to our location.
You can track the Northern Lights to find out what time they are likely to be most visible. You can track it using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
However, wet and cloudy weather does not make for ideal viewing conditions, but the skies may clear later tonight. Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather said that there may be some clear spells tonight.
“After a nice clear night with amazing Northern Lights it has turned very wet and windy this morning. Heavy rain will move Northeast up the country with some strong winds in Southeast this morning,” he said on Tuesday morning.
“Brighter spells and showers moving up from the Southwest with some clear spells tonight and maybe another chance to try see the Northern Lights but as always it is wait and see. More heavy rain pushing up from South for Wednesday morning with another wet day I’m afraid.”
Northern lights at night in Malin Head, Co Donegal, Ireland.(Image: )
Aurora Alerts Ireland called last night’s showing of the lights a “major aurora alert.” The famous lights are the result gas particles in our atmosphere and charged particles ejected from the sun’s atmosphere crashing into each other.
The colours of the auroras change due to the type of gas particles that are colliding at any given time, with blue or purple auroras indicating the presence of nitrogen molecules, while red and green signify oxygen molecules at various concentrations.
Ireland has been treated to a number of visible Northern Lights showings in recent years, and this is no coincidence. The lights run on a cycle, and we are at a stage in the cycle where they are boldest.
“We are currently approaching the peak of solar activity in Solar Cycle 25. This cycle will continue until 2030,” said Johan Jaques, Chief Meteorologist at KISTERS . “The northern lights are usually more visible around the spring and autumn equinoxes when the sun is perpendicular to the Earth’s equator.”
“This means that the sun is emitting more charged particles (or solar wind), which, in conjunction with the Earth’s magnetic field, is causing more vivid and widespread aurora displays. Large solar flares and geomagnetic storms can also push the visibility of the aurora further south to places such as the US, Ireland and Scotland.”
He also added that smartphones have a lot to do with why it feels like the Northern Lights are more present in our lives. “The fact that people have better means, via apps and smartphones, of knowing when the aurora borealis is coming and can capture it with their phones, without expensive photography equipment, also plays a part.
As always, your best chance of seeing the aurora, if it is forecast in your area, is to go somewhere with little to no light pollution. We’ve already seen some incredible photos of the phenomenon already this week, and hopefully we will see more in the coming days!”
Generally, the further north in the country you are, the better you can see them.
An area of low light pollution is essential to see them in their full glory, too. Ireland boasts two officially recognised dark sky places, Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve and Mayo International Dark Sky Park.
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