Always wanted to see the northern lights but don’t fancy trekking up to the Arctic? You’re in luck. The UK is currently witnessing tonnes of geomagnetic activity. Afew of weeks ago(May 10-13) the lights wereseen up and down the land, from Scotland to Cornwall, and even in London –which is usually too far south and has too much light pollution.
And there’s a chance all that might happen again quite soon. According to theBBC, the same sunspot cluster that caused the spectacular lights of May 10-13 has come back around, making another peak likely.
Aurora borealis (as the lights are otherwise known) is more commonly seen in far northern parts of the country like Scotland and Northern Ireland. Nationwide displays are a very rare occurrence indeed, as are sightings in northern England.
Want to get a glimpse of the fabled phenomenon? Fret not. We’ve got all the info right here to give you the best chances of seeing the dancing illuminations. Below is everything you need to know about spotting aurora borealis here in the UK.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights generally appear in high latitude regions such as the Arctic or Scandinavia.
Their colourful glow is caused by a stream of charged particles that have escaped the sun (known as solar wind) interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. The particles hit our atmosphere at high speed and combine with oxygen and nitrogen to create a multicoloured burst. A green glow is associated with oxygen while nitrogen causes the appearance of purple, blue and pink.
How to see the northern lights in the UK
On May 10-13 the lights werevisible across the entire country in an unprecedented and rare display. That same giant sunspot is still around, though experts at Space.com aren’t so sure it will again produce such spectacular aurora. We’ll just have to wait and see.
The northern lightsare oftenvisible to the naked eye throughout much of Scotland. The further north you go, the better your chances. Southern areas of Scotland, England and Wales are also sometimes able to catch sight of the aurora, though typically only in rural areas with little light pollution.
Want to see the phenomenon?Conditions in the sky need to be as clear and cloud-free as possible. Try to find a darklocation with as little light pollution as possible. For optimum viewing, face the northern horizon.
What’s the best time to see the aurora?
The lights are viewable after dark (check your local sunset/sunrise times for exact timings). The best sightings are usually when the skies are darkest.
When will the northern lights be visible again?
The chance to see this wonder of nature doesn’t come around too often and the lights are notoriously hard to predict. Predictions change for different parts of the northern hemisphere, too. But it’s worth knowing the late September to mid-Marchis typically thought of as the best period to see the lights and is what some like to call‘aurora season’.
To keep an eye on the lights’ activity you can look at the AuroraWatch website. Don’t fancy waiting around? Here’s our list of the best places in the world to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
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FAQs
The aurora borealis (or northern lights) is a spectacular natural phenomenon which can occasionally be seen in the night sky over Britain. Once seen, it is never forgotten. AuroraWatch UK is a free service offering alerts when the aurora might be visible from the UK.
What is the app to see the northern lights in the UK? ›
The aurora borealis (or northern lights) is a spectacular natural phenomenon which can occasionally be seen in the night sky over Britain. Once seen, it is never forgotten. AuroraWatch UK is a free service offering alerts when the aurora might be visible from the UK.
What time tonight is best to see the northern lights? ›
When Is The Best Time To See The Northern Lights? The best time to view the spectacle is between 10 p.m. and 2.a.m., according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. Geomagnetic activity increases during this time frame, which makes the lights look stronger.
Which direction are the northern lights in the UK? ›
This incredible occurrence can be occasionally seen in the night sky over Britain. The northern lights (also known as aurora borealis) appear as large areas of colour including pale green, pink, shades of red, yellow, blue and violet in the direction due north.
Which direction to look for the northern lights? ›
Find a place where you can see to the north ( or south if you are in the southern hemisphere). Given the right vantage point, say for example on top of a hill in the northern hemisphere with an unobstructed view toward the north, a person can see aurora even when it is 1000 km (600 miles) further north.
What time can I see the aurora in the UK tonight? ›
Generally, the best chances of seeing the aurora is generally around the hours of local midnight, 10pm - 2am. However, the aurora may appear any time during the night depending on geomagnetic activity.
What is the best northern lights tracker UK? ›
AuroraWatch UK is a free service offering alerts of when the aurora might be visible from the UK. It is run by scientists in the Space and Planetary Physics group at Lancaster University's Department of Physics.
What time are you guaranteed to see the northern lights? ›
The winter season in the Arctic lasts from late September to late March/ early April. During this time, the Arctic sky is dark enough for the Northern Lights to be visible in the right conditions. The aurora is at its most active around the equinoxes in March and September.
How to see northern lights on iPhone? ›
Access the hidden settings menu in the iPhone's camera app by tapping the top arrow. Locate the Night Mode icon and adjust the exposure time slider to the maximum, typically 30 seconds for tripod setups. This extended exposure time allows your iPhone to capture the full brilliance of the northern lights.
Can you see the northern lights with the naked eye? ›
Yes. Most commonly the aurora seen will be green or whitish, but depending on the strength of the activity, pinks and reds are also visible to the naked eye.
The northern lights are often visible to the naked eye throughout much of Scotland. The further north you go, the better your chances. Southern areas of Scotland, England and Wales are also sometimes able to catch sight of the aurora, though typically only in rural areas with little light pollution.
Can you see the Northern Lights in London? ›
How rare are the Northern Lights in the UK? May's displays across London and the south are a very rare occurrence indeed. According to the BBC, the same sunspot cluster that caused the spectacular lights of May 10-13 will come back around 31st May to 2nd June.
How long do the Northern Lights last? ›
The aurora often occur for a few glorious minutes at a time. A good display may last between 15 and 30 minutes, although if you're really lucky, it could extend to a couple of hours or longer.
What time of night should I look for northern lights? ›
I am often asked what is the best time to see the northern lights. Unfortunately, there is not any easy answer to this, except than say: the northern lights can appear any time of the night, as long as the sky is dark enough.
How can I increase my chances of seeing the northern lights? ›
My advice for increasing your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis:
- Don't travel purely for the Northern Lights, but rather think of seeing them as a bonus. ...
- Download the Aurora App. ...
- Choose a destination where you can view an online live stream of the sky. ...
- Stay somewhere inland instead of somewhere coastal.
Aurora Alerts is an app designed to monitor real-time auroral activity and push alert to let you know if there may be aurora borealis (northern lights) visible tonight. Whenever you are home or away, Aurora Alerts will notify you if the possibility of seeing the northern lights exists.
How do I get Aurora Alerts in the UK? ›
WARNING : YOU ARE STILL IN FACEBOOK OR TWITTER, NOT A WEB BROWSER.
- Open Chrome or Safari.
- Go to 'https://aurora-alerts.uk/'.
- Follow the installation instructions shown there.
AuroraWatch UK is a completely free service to its users.
Is the Glendale aurora app safe? ›
Is it safe? click to expand contents. Glendale App is a progressive web app. They are totally safe to install on all devices.
