They’re the gift that keeps on giving. The northern lights are expected to be back again this month (and this week, potentially after a solar blast on March 1) with a stunning celestial display, turning March into a real treat for stargazers and aurora followers in the UK.
According to Forbes, the lights are likely to make an appearance on March’s darkest evenings, which will be between March 22 and March 29. To get the best chance of spotting the phenomenon, the magazine recommends checking the sky after the sunset during the few weeks either side of Thursday, March 20.
People in the northern US states, Canada, and regions near the Arctic Circle will have the best chances of spotting the aurora this month, but there’s still an opportunity to see it in the UK, particularly in Scotland. Your best bet at getting a glimpse of the display is to head to somewhere with high ground and little light pollution. And this is the one UK location where you are most likely to spot them.
Why are the lights appearing so much at the moment? Well, March 2025 may be a particularly good time to spot the phenomenon because the sun will be close to its ‘solar maximum’, which is the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. On March 20, the vernal equinox puts the Earth's axis perpendicular to the solar wind, which is known to cause an increase in aurora activity.
To keep track of the celestial activity, we recommend checking out the AuroraWatch website.
The 7 best places to see the northern lights around the world.
Plus: These are the best places to go stargazing in the UK.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.