Northern lights to be visible in the UK tonight. (Image: Getty)
Brits are in for a rare astronomical treat this weekend as the Northern Lights will be visible from the UK on March 8 and 9. The space weather forecaster has revealed which areas across the country can catch a glimpse of aurora borealis tonight.
The national forecaster says those in northern Scotland late on Saturday evening will be able to spot the display. However, skies will have to be clear. For those unable to catch them over the weekend, a second opportunity will arise this week. The auroras will again be visible overnight on Sunday into Monday morning and from Monday evening into Tuesday.
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The Northern lights can be seen from Scotland. (Image: Getty)
The said: “There is a chance of aurora sightings later on March 8 into March 9 across northern Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes where skies are clear.
“High latitudes are likely to see the aurora overnight March 9 into March 10 and to a lesser extent on March 10 into March 11. This is due to the anticipated onset of fast winds. Otherwise, background levels expected.”
Spotting the lights from British ground is extremely rare. The Northern Lights are usually visible in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the north of the American state Alaska, and northern Siberia in . However, the further north you are in the UK, the more likely you will see the display.
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The auroras display an incredible pattern of lights covering the night sky and often appear as green, purple, or faint red rays. These colours are created by two primary gases in the Earth’s atmosphere: oxygen and nitrogen.
Oxygen causes a green light, and nitrogen gives off hints of purple or blue, while a red tint can also be seen when oxygen very high up in the Earth’s atmosphere interacts with solar particles.
The best chance of seeing the Northern Lights is when the sky is clear and dark and they are best viewed in remote areas, facing the northern horizon, away from any light pollution.