Get ready for another breathtaking celestial show tonight! Fresh off the heels of a stunning meteor shower, we’re in for yet another astronomical treat as the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are set to light up the night sky.

Where will the Northern Lights be seen tonight?

Starting from around midnight, those in Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland will have the chance to witness this spectacular natural phenomenon with their own eyes. The UK’s Met Office has confirmed that the vibrant display could be visible as far south as Newcastle, Belfast, and even the Isle of Man. So, if you’re in these areas, be sure to look northwards after nightfall. And don’t fret if you’re located further south—there’s still a chance you might capture the magical lights with your smartphone camera, even if they aren’t visible to the naked eye.

The reason for tonight’s stunning aurora?

It’s all thanks to a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is essentially a huge burst of plasma released from the sun’s corona—the outermost layer of our star. These high-energy particles have travelled from the sun at mind-boggling speeds, reaching Earth and creating what’s known as a solar storm. As these particles interact with our planet’s magnetosphere, they travel down the magnetic field lines towards the poles and enter our atmosphere.

Once these particles collide with gases in our atmosphere, they produce the awe-inspiring lights we know as auroras. Oxygen gives us those vivid greens and reds, while nitrogen is responsible for the blues and purples that often dance across the sky.

While the auroras are a stunning sight to behold, it’s worth noting that they can have some earthly impacts too. The same particles that create these beautiful light shows can also disrupt power grids and satellites, potentially causing internet interruptions.

So, wherever you are tonight, keep your eyes to the skies—whether you’re in Scotland, Newcastle, or even further afield, you won’t want to miss this dazzling display!