To the north - Northern Lights could shine tonight

To the north
Northern Lights could shine tonight

The night sky glows with vivid aurora colours, showing bright green bands near the horizon blending into purple and pink streaks higher up. Dark silhouettes of trees frame the bottom of the scene.

A particularly strong aurora pictured in

in 2025.

The arrival of a solar particles Wednesday evening brings a chance to see the always awe-inspiring Northern Lights in the north of the UK.

This display, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is produced by particles emitted by the Sun impacting the Earth's atmosphere. On Sunday, the Sun produced a large coronal mass ejection which is set to arrive Wednesday night.

The Northern Lights can often be spotted in Scotland, but with stronger events like tonight, they can be seen further south too... if the skies are clear.

Much like the day, there is still rain moving through the UK and Ireland by the evening, but pockets of visibility open up.

Can't see them? Maybe you can

Swirling trails of greens and reds are the typically pictured scenes from an aurora, but they can be invisible to the naked eye. Try taking a long-exposure of the evening sky to capture any activity.

Like all astronomical events, it is easier to spot the Northern Lights in areas away from artificial light, which can mask the night sky.

Ryan Hathaway

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