Where can you see the Northern Lights in the UK tonight?

The Northern Lights were visible for much of the UK on Friday night and could be visible again on Saturday, as ITV News' Alex Iszatt reports.

By ITV News Producer Hannah Ward-Glenton

The Northern Lights dazzled huge swaths of the UK on Friday night thanks to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, with further solar storms expected on Saturday.

The Aurora Borealis was best visible in Whitley Bay on the north east coast, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Wokingham in Berkshire.

It was also spotted in Suffolk, Kent, Hampshire and Liverpool, and was even visible in parts of London.

The Aurora Borealis at the Another Place sculpture on Crosby Beach, Liverpool. Credit: PA

So can you spot them tonight if you missed out on Friday?

When and where can you see the Northern Lights tonight?

ITV News meteorologist and weather presenter Chris Page said it is "likely" the Northern Lights will be visible this evening.

"Tonight the solar storms are likely to continue and are likely to be visible again. However, the storm is reducing in intensity and it's thought the display won't be as potent as last night.

"Likely to see it best between 10.30pm-2am where light pollution levels are reduced."

The Met Office also said it was likely to be less strong on Saturday night, but most of the north of England and almost all of Scotland would be able to see the lights between 10pm and 2am.

It added that weaker sightings were possible further south.

Craig Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “It is hard to fully predict what will happen in the Earth’s atmosphere, but there will still be enhanced solar activity tonight, so the lights could be visible again in northern parts of the UK, including Scotland, Northern Ireland and the far north of England."

The Northern Lights above Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Credit: PA

Sightings in southern parts of the UK are less likely on Saturday, although Mr Snell said the lights might be visible through a strong camera lens.

While short nights limit the visibility window, there’s a "good chance" of sightings on Saturday night, especially across Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and Wales, a Met Office spokesperson told ITV News.

"There could be some visibility further south, especially with long-exposure cameras."

Visibility of the Aurora Borealis will continue into Sunday night, but cloud across the UK, particularly in the West, is likely to obscure the view.

Areas in the East have the best chance at spotting the colourful skies again on Sunday, the Met Office said.

Top viewing tips

Chris Page provided his tips for spotting the Aurora Borealis:

  • Look to the northern horizon: The aurora is drawn towards the polar regions of the Earth. As a result you might not be able to see it directly overhead, but as it happens so high in sky look towards the northern horizon where it's likely to be dancing.

  • You can see it with the naked eye but cameras tend to capture it better. This is because cameras can adapt to different wave lengths better than our eyes. Give yourself time to adjust, at least 10 minutes.

The Northern Lights as seen around South Shields in Tyne and Wear. Credit: Steven Lomas

  • Find dark, open spaces: Seek out locations away from city lights and other sources of light pollution. Open fields, parks, or remote areas with unobstructed views of the northern horizon are ideal for aurora watching.

  • Be patient and persistent: Seeing the aurora requires patience and persistence, as it can be unpredictable and may not appear every night, even during periods of high activity. Stay flexible with your plans and be prepared to wait for hours if necessary.

  • Use long exposures for photography: If you're interested in photographing the aurora, use a camera with manual settings and a tripod to capture long exposures. Experiment with different exposure times and ISO settings to achieve the best results.

  • Stay up late: Auroras are often most active in the late evening to early morning hours, so plan to stay up late or wake up early for the best chance of seeing a spectacular display.

How often do we see the Northern Lights?

It's rare that the Northern Lights are this visible in the UK.

Friday night's display has been classified as a G5 Extreme Solar Storm by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This last happened in October 2003.

What's the science behind the Northern Lights?

Charged particles from the sun, primarily electrons and protons, collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, typically oxygen and nitrogen.

These collisions emit light at various wavelengths, creating vibrant displays of colour in the sky, often appearing as curtains, arcs, or bands of light.

The Northern Lights in Hertfordshire earlier this month. Credit: ITV News

The colours are determined by the type of gas particles involved and the altitude at which the collisions occur.

Greens appear due to interactions with oxygen, red is from oxygen in the upper atmosphere while blues and purples are due to the interaction of nitrogen.

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