Guide to Viewing the Northern Lights Tonight in the UK

If you didn't get to witness the Northern Lights making an appearance in the United Kingdom in the previous month, don't feel disheartened because you have another opportunity to witness them tonight.

The extraordinary display of light is going to be visible further south than usual because of a gap in the sun's atmosphere.

When a certain area in the corona of the sun, which is the most external layer of the atmosphere, cools down and has less thickness, it allows for the movement of electrically charged particles known as 'solar winds'.

The planet's magnetic field directs these particles towards our planet, and when they collide with our atmosphere, they create vivid hues.

The weather experts at the Met Office have announced that an extremely rapid stream of solar winds may result in the renowned northern lights being visible across Edinburgh tonight.

Don't feel disheartened if you didn't get to see the Northern Lights in the UK last month because they're back tonight! Check out this amazing picture of the Northern Lights over Portobello beach in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The experts at the Met Office have stated that due to the speedy arrival of solar winds, people in Edinburgh may be able to witness the renowned aurora borealis tonight. The above image depicts the forecast for the aurora in the Northern Hemisphere at 9 pm GMT.

Today, our planet witnessed the arrival of two 'coronal mass ejections' (CMEs) that were discharged from the sun on March 20th.

What Exactly are Coronal Holes?

Coronal holes refer to areas found on the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere known as the corona. Unlike other regions whereby the magnetic field curves towards the surface, these areas extend out into space.

Tiny things that are in motion in the magnetic fields have the ability to exit from the sun instead of being stuck close to the surface. The particles that are trapped can become heated and emit light.

In areas of the corona where particles depart from the sun, the luminosity is significantly fainter and the opening of the corona is seen as black.

Back in 1973 and 1974, astronaut crews who were aboard NASA's Skylab space station were able to capture images of what we now know as coronal holes.

CMEs refer to abrupt discharges of plasma and magnetic energy from the sun's outermost layer, resulting in the ability to influence the earth's atmosphere and trigger the appearance of the Aurora borealis.

Although not noticeable, they have raised the Earth's geomagnetic intensity from 'Unsettled' to 'Active' and have heightened the likelihood of significant solar flares.

This occurs when solar winds or coronal mass ejections have a significant impact on the Earth's magnetic field, resulting in potential blackouts or interruptions to the power infrastructure.

The high-speed winds are expected to come through the coronal hole later tonight and persist until Friday.

According to the maps offered by the Met Office, it is expected that there will be some activity at 9:00 pm GMT today, 10:00 pm GMT tomorrow and at midnight GMT on Sunday. However, the intensity will decrease gradually over time.

According to the experts at the Met Office, it's likely that the aurora will be more visible during the night of the 22nd and 23rd due to an increase in geomagnetic activity caused by fast winds from coronal hole 86. However, it's not entirely clear when these winds will arrive, so the enhanced aurora might not appear until later on the 23rd.

It is possible for this to be strengthened even more due to the passing impact of grazing coronal mass ejections.

It is possible to see the aurora in areas as far south as southern Scotland in this particular situation.

The Met Office has given out maps that predict the occurrence of activity at three different times. These times are 21:00 GMT tonight, 22:00 GMT tomorrow, and 00:00 GMT on Sunday. Based on the maps, activity is expected to decrease gradually. On the left side is the forecast for the Northern Hemisphere's aurora tomorrow at 21:00 GMT, while on the right-hand side is the forecast for Sunday at 00:00 GMT.

Although it's often seen from the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, it's uncommon for the Northern Lights to be visible in the sky farther south. This photo shows the Northern Lights over Findhorn in Moray, Scotland.

Although the Northern Lights can often be seen from the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, they are seldom seen in the night sky in more southern regions.

Green and red light are released by oxygen, whereas blue and purple light are emitted by nitrogen. These lights are commonly observed during the winter season when the nights are extended, chilly, and gloomy.

The solar activity releases energy and tiny particles that move along the magnetic field lines and reach the poles of the Earth, where their effects are most noticeable.

However, if the intensity of the activity is high, these occurrences may be noticeable at a greater distance.

During the nights of February 26 and 27, two extremely potent Coronal Mass Ejections happened. These occurrences caused individuals interested in the stars, located as far down south as Kent and Cornwall, to also observe them.

To witness the beauty of Northern Lights, it is recommended by the British Geological Survey to locate a space that is not illuminated by street lights and has a clear sky with no clouds.

According to specialists, observers of the sky should typically direct their gaze towards the north, although the stunning phenomenon may also appear directly above or in other directions.

The aurora borealis is a term referring to the light display in the northern regions, while the aurora australis pertains to the same phenomenon in the southern areas.

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are a beautiful natural phenomenon that occur in the winter. These lights result from a reaction between oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere, creating different colors such as green, red, blue, and purple. They are most commonly seen during long, dark, and cold nights. In Scotland's Hebrides, the Northern Lights are a breathtaking sight for all to enjoy.

The sun's energy and tiny materials move through the magnetic field and show up most often in the Earth's poles. Here is a photo of the aurora borealis in St. Andrews, Scotland.

The sun undergoes a solar cycle that lasts for 11 years and affects the activity of its magnetic field.

As a result, there is an inconsistent level of movement occurring on the exterior of the sun.

Since the end of the solar minimum in 2020, there has been a surge in surface activity on the sun. As of now, the sun is displaying the most heightened activity since 2014.

The solar maximum is predicted to happen in 2025, meaning there will likely be an increase in aurora sightings in the upcoming months and years.

One instance of this can be seen when we look at the massive 'solar tornado' that was discovered recently. It was so big that it reached a height which was 14 times greater than that of Earth.

The plasma and heat tornado was massive, standing at over 74,500 miles tall and whirling at a staggering speed of up to 310,000 miles per hour.

Sun tornadoes happen because of magnetic structures in a spiral shape that come up from the sun and are fixed to the solar surface on either side.

Within this arrangement, a vertical column of plasma, also called a prominence, propels upwards and is directed by its helical magnetic field. This creates a spinning motion that results in the formation of a twister.

Solar Storms Pose a Significant Threat to Astronauts and Can Cause Satellite Damage.

The activities from sun, commonly called solar storms, have different types that can affect the Earth in various ways. These aspects can be categorized into four main parts.

Although these events may appear perilous, astronauts surprisingly aren't at instant risk from them due to the quite limited altitude of manned expeditions.

Yet, they must consider the total amount of exposure they receive whilst going out for space walks.

In this image, we can see holes in the sun's coronal that have been captured in x-ray form. The corona is the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, and it is made up of powerful magnetic fields. When these fields come together and then separate, they can cause bubbles or tongues of gas and magnetic fields to be ejected from the corona. These eruptions are called coronal mass ejections and can be sudden and violent.

Solar storms create destruction.

The occurrence of solar flares has the potential to cause harm to satellites and can result in a significant economic burden.

The electrically charged tiny particles can pose a risk to airlines by interrupting the magnetic field of the Earth.

Enormous bursts of energy can generate electric flows in power systems, causing blackouts and disrupting the energy supply.

Geomagnetic storms and intense aurora are triggered on Earth when Coronal Mass Ejections hit our planet.

Their presence can cause interference with radio signals, affect the accuracy of GPS locations, and potentially cause electrical systems to become overburdened.

A huge surge of power may enter high-voltage electricity networks and result in irreparable harm to transformers.

This may cause a power cut in businesses and residences worldwide.

NASA has released information regarding solar storms and space weather. These are events that occur in outer space that can affect technology on Earth. When a solar storm occurs, it releases a large amount of energy and particles into space. This can cause disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere, which can lead to issues with satellites, navigation systems and power grids. It is important for us to monitor these events in order to prepare and protect our technology on Earth. With the help of NASA and their research, we can better understand and prepare for the potential effects of solar storms and space weather.