by The Northern Lights could be visible from the UK this weekend and shine even brighter than May’s Northern Lights following a massive solar flare.
The European Space Agency has sent out a warning that a coronal mass ejection of type X9.0 was detected around 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon – the strongest since the start of the current solar cycle in December 2019.
Where will the Northern Lights be visible?
The wave of charged particles is likely to hit Earth’s atmosphere on Saturday, with an aurora expected under clear skies.
This is most likely across the north, east and south of the UK on Saturday evening, although more clouds and some rain are expected in the west.
In May, the Northern Lights were visible across much of the UK following a series of strong solar storms, culminating in a flare of magnitude X8.7. However, Friday’s eruption was even stronger.
When will the Northern Lights be visible?
Silvia Dalla, Professor of Solar Physics at the University of Central Lancashire, commented: “Solar flares and fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large ejections of plasma and magnetic fields. This strong geomagnetic activity results in breathtaking northern lights.
“If we experience a repeat of the solar situation we saw in mid-May, we may see more fascinating aurora activity in the British sky.
“Finding a good spot to watch the Northern Lights can be challenging and conditions can change quickly. Aurora hunting is a late night activity and the optimal time to view the spectacle is usually between 11:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.
“To maximize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, the sky needs to be as clear as possible. Look north and try to find a place with dark skies, ideally away from a city where light pollution can reduce visibility.”
Auroras occur when solar particles excite molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, causing them to glow. The color depends on what chemicals are hit.
Red and pink light are produced by collisions with nitrogen molecules at low altitudes, while green light is produced by oxygen molecules higher up.
The Sun’s magnetic field cycles approximately every 11 years and is expected to peak in July 2025.
The current solar cycle began in December 2019 and is expected to continue to intensify next year, increasing the likelihood of solar flares and plasma bubbles that shoot charged particles toward Earth.
Solar cycles occur because the Sun’s magnetic poles periodically reverse, with activity peaking precisely when the north and south poles swap places.
Although the Northern Lights are commonly seen in the north of England and Scotland during the winter months, it is rare for activity in the sun to be strong enough to reach further south.
The peak outbreak in May led to radio outages and there are fears this weekend could also cause problems.
The European Space Agency said: “The coronal mass ejection is expected to arrive late on October 5 and has the potential to produce moderate to strong geomagnetic disturbances.”
NASA astronaut Chris Hadfield added: “The sun was hyperactive and Earth’s deflector shields were up. Look for good auroras.”
A Met Office spokesman said: “There is a possibility of Northern Lights sightings over the next few nights, particularly in the north on Saturday evening if there is no clear visibility.”
The largest solar storm ever recorded, the Carrington Event in 1859, crippled telegraph systems and even set fire to paper in offices.
Extreme space weather has already caused widespread disruption: A geomagnetic storm left six million people without power in 1989, Apollo astronauts narrowly avoided exposure to deadly radiation in 1972, and solar flares in 2003 forced the crew of the International Space Station to take cover to go.
