Northern Lights: How to see them in the UK tonight
The picture was provided by StormChaserLiam, a member of BBC Weather Watchers.
On Friday night, the entirety of the UK was illuminated by the radiant glow of vibrant lights, as depicted in this image captured in Loose, Kent.
Rewritten: Authored by Simon King and Jacqueline Howard.
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If you woke up on Saturday morning feeling refreshed but disappointed about missing out on seeing the Northern Lights, don't fret. You'll have another chance to catch them tonight.
On the night of Friday, the brightness of the lights amazed the entire nation. Meanwhile, various snapshots of vivid shades of pink, purple, and green spreading throughout the dark sky spread like wildfire on the internet.
This article will provide you with all the information you require to learn how to capture them on Saturday evening.
Where To Spot Northern Lights In The UK Tonight?
Similar to the previous Friday evening, the Aurora Borealis will illuminate the atmosphere throughout the United Kingdom.
This implies that you have an opportunity to witness it regardless of your location, as long as the weather permits and the skies are not gloomy (which seems probable).
Last Friday, photos were shared from various locations across the UK, spanning from Inverness to Kent, and from Omagh to Anglesey to Norwich. This makes it a spectacle that can be enjoyed throughout the entire nation.
Typically, a place that is far from any light pollution and has an uninterrupted view of the night sky presents the ideal conditions to witness the lights. However, as per the events of Friday night, this wasn't the case.
On Saturday night, there is a high possibility of observing auroras in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and certain areas of northern England and Wales based on the forecast by the Met Office.
When Will They Shine The Brightest?
It's expected that the Aurora will be active again in the UK. It looks like the storm will still be strong but maybe not as extreme as last night, and it might decrease.
The atmospheric circumstances are perfect with no clouds in sight, but it is crucial to have a lack of sunlight, hence why it's advisable to hold off until 10:30 PM BST.
During this season when days are shorter, the darkest part of the night occurs from 11:30 PM until the early hours of dawn.
According to the Met Office, the behavior of the lights is quite erratic. Therefore, it is best to anticipate that the colors and their location may vary and change at different intervals.
By chance, if you are watching Eurovision tonight, the champion will be announced shortly before the ideal moment to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis (especially if the program runs longer than usual, as it frequently does, and you glance outside later in the evening).
"Capture Their Best: Tips For Perfect Photos"
During the evening of Friday, a group of people who participate in BBC Weather Watchers managed to capture some remarkable moments. They sent over 3,000 stunning photos to us, all of which were taken between 9 PM and 1 AM on Saturday.
As the brightness of the lights on Saturday night is expected to be lower than Friday's, you could use camera techniques to capture the perfect photo. This will help you make the most of your night out.
The source of the image is from Lara, one of the BBC Weather Watchers.
Anne Wilkie took a photo of the lights that appeared above her residence located in Woodside, Scotland.
On the evening of Friday, amateur photographer Anne Wilkie utilized her iPhone to capture the sight of the lights.
She shares advice on how to capture the perfect photo such as:
According to Ms. Wilkie, the camera is highly receptive and captures colors more vividly than the human eye. Hence, if you spot any lights in the sky, just aim the camera in that direction, and with some fortune, you may catch the stunning shades of pinks, greens and purples on your device's screen.
Every person who uses a phone for photography purposes will desire to adjust the exposure settings to capture the optimal lighting. Typically, this option is easily accessible by tapping on the screen while using the camera application on most smartphones.
Newer cell phone models can offer even more advanced camera features, such as the ability to modify shutter speed and exposure duration.
If you want to capture the mesmerizing movement of lights, you can increase the exposure time. However, to avoid any blurry photos, it is essential to keep your phone still while capturing.
What Are Northern Lights?
The Aurora Borealis occurs due to electrified particles in atoms recognized as charged particles.
The light becomes visible when the sun discharges charged particles which collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Right now, the Sun is going through a very intense geomagnetic storm that is causing solar winds to be released into the solar system along with a bunch of particles.
The reason why we observe diverse hues in the sky is because charged particles induce energy into the variety of gases located in the Earth's atmosphere.
Oxygen and nitrogen are the top two gases that make up the atmosphere surrounding Earth. If observing the Northern Lights, the glowing green color usually comes from the oxygen atoms, while purple, bluish, and pink hues are emitted by the nitrogen atoms instead.
Why Are The Lights On For Two Nights?
It's been quite a while since Earth was hit by an extreme geomagnetic storm. The last one was way back in 2003. That's why what happened on Friday is a rare occurrence. Typically, we only see the Northern Lights in the northern parts of the UK and nowhere else.
In the past year or so, there have been numerous instances of the aurora appearing weakly in the southern regions of the UK.
The reason for this is that the Sun is currently nearing its highest point in its 11-year solar cycle, otherwise known as the 'solar maximum'. Consequently, there will be a natural increase in the number of sunspots on the surface of the Sun.
The occurrence of sunspots is quite similar to massive volcanoes that discharge charged particles in the form of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). Due to their current abundance, the possibility of more frequent and potent auroral activity seems plausible.
It is important to note that due to the fact that we are now able to predict these occurrences with greater accuracy, plus the majority of people possessing a smartphone capable of capturing images of the stunning aurora, there has been a rise in the number of sightings over the past ten or twenty years.
