The Northern Lights were visible across parts of the UK and Ireland overnight – and the Met Office says they could be back tonight (Tuesday, September 2). The colourful Northern Lights display was caused by a fast-moving coronal mass ejection from the Sun on Saturday evening that was forecast to reach Earth between Monday and early Tuesday.
Meteorologists previously said the resulting geomagnetic activity could make the aurora visible further south than usual, provided skies are dark and clear. Stargazers on Monday night reported sightings in north-east Scotland, northern England and the Midlands, with photos on social media showing the lights as far south as West Cork in Ireland.
Today and Wednesday will see night-time viewing conditions worsen, but northern Scotland and northern England are likely to have the clearest skies. A waxing gibbous moon, which means it is between a half and a full moon, could also disrupt clear views of the aurora, particularly in areas with additional light pollution.
For those in more marginal locations, further south or in urban areas, light pollution will play a significant role in determining whether the aurora can be seen. Krista Hammond, the space weather manager at the Met Office said: “Forecasts can change rapidly, so we encourage the public to stay updated with the latest information.”
As of now, her team’s data show the aurora appearing above the UK from around 6pm tonight. The current forecast for the Northern Hemisphere reads: A fast-moving Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that departed the Sun late on 30 August arrived at Earth late on 1 September.
“Following its arrival, a significant enhancement of the auroral oval is likely, potentially continuing into 3 September. At peak activity, and where skies are sufficiently dark and clear, aurora may be visible across much of the UK, potentially without the need for photographic equipment. However, a waxing gibbous Moon may hinder visibility in some areas.”
A coronal mass ejection is a release of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona, the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere. These ejections can travel at speeds of up to several million kilometres per hour and, when directed towards Earth, can interact with the planet’s magnetic field. This interaction can trigger geomagnetic storms, which in turn can produce displays of the aurora.
Easy way to get Northern Lights alerts
You can download a free phone app to make sure you don’t miss a Northern Lights alert again. AuroraWatch UK is a free service which offers alerts of when the aurora might be visible from the UK.
The app is run by scientists in the Space and Planetary Physics group and Lancaster University’s Department of Physics. If you download it, you will receive a message to your phone when auroras are likely to be visible.
Why displays are happening more often in the UK
The natural aurora belt occurs around Norway, Iceland and Greenland meaning it takes a rare and extreme geomagnetic storm to bring the belt southwards directly over the UK. The best way to see the aurora in the UK during an extreme storm is to make sure it is a clear night with no cloud cover.
The lights are best seen from a dark location with no light pollution, while looking towards the northern horizon. Some stargazers say it’s easier to spot the lights through a camera lens than with the naked eye.
Sky News reported in 2024 that we are in a period where people in the UK are more likely to see the Northern Lights. Their website stated: “We are currently near the peak of the 11-year solar cycle, with high solar activity giving an increased chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The current peak is expected to last until mid-2025, according to the Royal Astronomical Society.”
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