Northern Lights and Perseid meteor shower put on dazzling display
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Astrology enthusiasts enjoyed a stunning view as the Perseid meteor shower danced across the sky, occasionally accompanied by the aurora borealis in certain regions.
Also called the aurora borealis, the Northern Lights gave a breathtaking display across the UK on Monday night. More sightings are anticipated on Tuesday evening due to clear skies reaching many areas.
Marina Muttik, a 29-year-old software developer residing in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, shared her awe-inspiring experience of viewing the northern lights and Perseid meteor shower from Chesham, Buckinghamshire. She described the moment as a truly humbling one.
She informed the news agency that the aurora was reaching its highest point at approximately 11:30pm, leading to the pink hues becoming more noticeable to the naked eye.
Looking up at the night sky is always a humbling experience, and the Perseid meteor shower brought a touch of enchantment - ideal for making some wishes.
30-year-old Kirsty Louise, located in Plymouth, Devon, took pictures of the meteor shower on her mobile phone at approximately 11:20pm on Monday.
She mentioned that it was funny because she couldn't believe what she saw on her phone at first. Seeing the photos made her feel joyful, as she has a deep passion for anything related to space. Knowing that she captured the moment on her phone added to her happiness.
In Northumberland, people saw shooting stars from the Perseid meteor shower flying across the sky while it changed colors to purple and green above the Bathing House in Howick.
According to the Met Office, the Aurora Borealis is most commonly seen in Scotland, northern England, North Wales, and Northern Ireland.
In specific circumstances of intense space weather, such as a powerful geomagnetic storm, these lights may be visible across the entirety of the United Kingdom.
The beautiful light show is created when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with Earth's magnetic field.
The color appearance is influenced by the molecules that the charged particles come into contact with.
According to the Met Office forecast, the aurora activity is expected to decrease to normal levels by Tuesday, with only minor auroras visible in the northern areas of Scotland.
The Perseids meteor shower was visible to people across the country on Monday night, thanks to the clear skies.
The occasion is connected to the dusty remains left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle, which circles the sun once every 133 years.
The small fragments of rock from the comet, which are typically the size of a tiny piece of sand, disintegrate as they enter the Earth's atmosphere at 36 miles per second, creating a spectacular streak of light in the sky.
