For us Brits, aurora borealis has always been something we only expect to see a few times in in our lifetime, if at all. If you wanted to see the majestic display of colour, you’d have to travel to the likes of Finland, Norway or Iceland, or to the northern corners of Scotland.
But something has changed over the past year. Suddenly the northern lights are being spotted in the Lake District, Birmingham, Swansea, Cornwall and even London. What are they doing so far south?
Well, the increased sightings are because the sun is nearing a solar maximum, a period of peak activity within its 11-year cycle. Giant eruptions of particles, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are more likely to occur during this period.
The particles emitted in a CME collide with the Earth’s atmosphere to create a geomagnetic storm and react to oxygen and nitrogen to produce shimmering purples, blues, greens and pinks. The northern lights are visible further south when the solar storms are particularly large.
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According to the Royal Astronomical Society, the sun’s current peak is expected to last until mid-2025. So, if you’re yet to spot the northern lights down south, there’s still time yet. Keep an eye on the AuroraWatch X feed to be the first to find out when the next display may appear.
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