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A ‘once-in-a-decade’ Northern Lights display could hit the UK in early 2025

Aurora borealis has been spotted in the likes of London and Cornwall in recent months

Amy Houghton
Written by
Amy Houghton
Contributing writer
Stonehenge under the northern lights in the UK
Photograph: Shutterstock
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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, SwanseaCornwall 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.

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. 

Did you see the extraordinary lights in the UK last weekend? They were even spotted in London.

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