Everyone's eyes are looking to the sky
A massive solar storm will mean the Northern Lights will be visible “all over the UK”, according to weather forecasters.
A rare and powerful solar storm will hit Earth on Friday and Saturday, meaning the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, can be seen as far south as Liverpool, England.
But according to ITV weather forecaster Chris Page, the storm could be the strongest since 2005, meaning lights will be visible across the country tonight (May 10) if skies clear.
Page wrote in a post on
“This means if you look north, you should be able to see the auroras across the UK tonight (clouds permitting).”
In a follow-up post, he gives tips on how to maximize your chances of seeing the lights.
He writes: “Keep in mind that day length and light pollution will have an impact on your viewing.
“Important: This will look better with a long exposure camera, make sure to keep it steady; you need to look at the northern horizon; let your eyes adjust before viewing.”
This celestial phenomenon will be caused by at least four coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun.
The Met Office said in the latest news: “Providing clear skies and sufficient darkness, auroras are expected to appear after the coronal mass ejection reaches the northern half of the UK. The auroras are likely to be visible in all areas of the UK.” UK and similar geomagnetic latitude.
“Given the possibility of more Earth-directed coronal mass ejections in the coming days, auroral activity is likely to continue to increase after this.”
The forecast sounds promising, with the Met Office predicting clear skies for much of the UK and Ireland after sunset.
One of nature's most incredible spectacles, the Northern Lights occur when solar storms release charged particles that eventually collide with Earth's atmosphere.
Increased solar flare activity emits charged particles from the sun that are trapped by Earth's magnetic field.
Once trapped, these particles heat up atoms by hitting them in Earth's atmosphere, creating the bright colors we know as the Northern Lights.
These lights are usually visible in the countries closest to the Arctic, such as Canada, Iceland and Norway.
The best time to see the lights is usually after sunset or before sunrise.
The upcoming solar event will be one of the most significant in years and could affect radio communications on Earth.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has classified the storm as a G4 event, the second highest level.
“Several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are likely to reach Earth and cause high levels of geomagnetic activity,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast said. “Watches of this magnitude are extremely rare.”
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