Latest reports suggest that the Northern Lights will dazzle up UK skies tonight. The Aurora Borealis lit up parts of northern England and Scotland last night. People as far as south of Wales witnessed the celestial event, made possible by rapid solar winds and clear, dark skies. A similar show is expected today, say experts from website AuroraWatch UK.
Bigger the disturbance, better it is
A member of the AuroraWatch team, who is also a space physicist at Lancaster University, Dr. Nathan Case, explained that the aurora is more likely to be seen when there is a stronger and bigger disturbance.
Speaking to Express, Case said that Scotland is in the best position to witness the celestial display.
The peak hours to watch the Aurora Borealis are between 9 pm and 1 am. The solar wind is continuing even today. Hence, UK will, in all probability, see the aurora tonight. Enthusiasts must head towards the countryside for the best display. Towns and cities may play spoilsport because of pollution.
Massive solar storm causing Aurora Borealis
People should face north-east and find a spot whence they can see the horizon. The Northern Lights are created when charged particles from the sun enter Earth’s atmosphere. A huge Solar Storm is battering Earth’s magnetic field. This has increased the chances of catching the glimpse of the magical phenomenon.
However, tonight could be the last chance to witness the Aurora Borealis. The Nov. 7-9 window is about to close, though there is a thin possibility that the Northern Lights may continue if the solar storm continues. Over the last few nights, the sun has been hurtling hot plasma towards Earth at two million miles an hour.
New York, Toronto, and London may be pleasantly surprised
This has caused magical green hues over the UK and the US. According to the US Space Weather Prediction Centre, there is a 50-60 percent chance that the solar storm will continue tonight. Thus, anyone who is above 40 degrees latitude, and under clear skies, will enjoy the aurora.
Those in the US, living north of the line stretching from Philadelphia to Denver, will be pleasantly surprised.
Experts believe that even London, New York, and Toronto have a fair chance. While green is the dominant color, stronger storms may also reveal purple, pink and orange waves. The experts are using magnetometers to identify disturbances in our planet’s magnetic field being caused by the Aurora Borealis.
