The Northern Lights were visible in parts of the UK overnight – and may be seen once again on Tuesday.
The spectacular natural light display, known as the aurora borealis, was caused by a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun late on Saturday and was expected to reach Earth between late Monday and early Tuesday.
It was expected to enhance geomagnetic activity, allowing the aurora to be seen further south than usual, particularly in dark and clear skies, the Met Office said.
On Monday night, stargazers reported sightings of the Northern Lights in northeast Scotland, northern England and the Midlands.
Some even reported seeing the aurora as far south as Dorset.
A Met Office spokesperson said: “With the arrival of this CME, the Met Office expects that at the peak of geomagnetic activity, there is a chance aurora may be visible across much of the UK.
“Notably, these displays may be visible to the naked eye, without the need for photographic equipment, which is relatively rare for locations this far south in the UK.
“The best chance of seeing the aurora remains in the north of the UK.
“If under clear skies, visibility is still tricky, photography can help.”
Several factors impact visibility, with night time viewing conditions worsening throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, northern Scotland and northern England are likely to have the clearest skies, though they will still not have ideal viewing conditions.
A waxing gibbous moon, which is between a half moon and a full moon, could also disrupt views of the aurora, particularly in areas with additional light pollution.
Light pollution will play a significant role in whether the celestial phenomenon will be able to be seen further south or in urban areas.
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Met Office space weather manager Krista Hammond said: “Forecasts can change rapidly, so we encourage the public to stay updated with the latest information.”
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The Northern Lights are the result of a coronal mass ejection, which sees a release of plasma and magnetic field from the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere – known as its corona.
These ejections can then travel at speeds of up to several million kilometres per hour, and when directed towards Earth, can interact with our planet’s magnetic field.
The interaction can then trigger geomagnetic storms, which can produce displays of the aurora.
