The Aurora Borealis – better known as the Northern Lights – have once again been providing a light show above the skies of Northern Ireland.
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The Northern lights that are usually spotted only from the north of Scotland set a mesmerizing show last night in Britain.
A Met Office meteorologist said: “There is a chance in North England, North Wales and Scotland, it’s hard to say really”. Sometimes, these charged particles move towards Earth and collide with the magnetic field of the Earth. The spectacular display was seen further south than usual after a recent geomagnetic storm.
People in Scotland have the best chance of witnessing a repeat performance, according to its space weather forecast, which charts disturbances in the earth’s upper atmosphere and magnetic field.
Currently, the sun is going through a decline phase in its 11-year solar cycle.
Cant quite afford a trip to the Arctic Circle but always wanted to see the Northern Lights?
Scientists say there are more sightings of the aurora in the spring and autumn than in summer and winter. Other good spots include Brecon Beacons National Park in south Wales and Exmoor National Park in southwest England, which are two of just nine parks across the globe to have been awarded the status of worldwide Dark Sky Reserves by the global Dark-Sky Association.
Solar physicist Dr Timo Laitinen said: “The aurora are often related to huge eruptions at the Sun which hurl a large cloud of material into the interplanetary space”.
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The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, pictured from Ballyhalbert by Jonny Donnan The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, pictured from Mallusk, Northern Ireland by Beverley Cripps.
