Northern lights could turn UK skies a dazzling green again tonight following on from last night’s display which an expert described as ‘almost like being in Iceland’.
The natural phenomenon swept across parts of Scotland and northern England, while areas as far down as South Wales also caught a glimpse of last night’s ethereal event.
Strong conditions, such as dark, clear skies, will remain for the next few days, and experts from AuroraWatch UK say we could be in for a dazzling show in the same places tonight.
‘The bigger the disturbance, the stronger the Aurora and the more likely it is to be seen,’ Dr Case, a space physicist at Lancaster University and an AuroraWatch UK team member told the Express.
‘Scotland has the best shot. The further north in the UK you go the better, but last night it was even visible down in south Wales. Fingers crossed it will be the same strength if it returns tonight.’
Tuesday’s phenomenon was caused by fast solar winds emitted by a hole in the outermost layer of the sun, Dr Case said.
In order to have the best chance of seeing the lights, people should get as far away from light pollution in towns and cities as possible.
They occur in the north-east of the sky so position yourself in that direction.
The lights are created when charged particles from the sun enter Earth’s atmosphere.
Usually the particles are deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field, but some enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles.
These collisions emit light in many colours, although pale green and pink are common.