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Aurora Borealis May Return: Geomagnetic Storms Create Light Displays
The aurora borealis, a natural light display, may be visible again after parts of the UK and other areas viewed it Friday night. The colourful phenomena is caused by solar activity interacting with the Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field.
The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, may return after being seen Friday night in the UK, Estonia, and Canada. Social media users also posted images from Russia. According to the UK Met Office, the natural light show is one of nature's most spectacular displays. The lights are most often seen near the Arctic Circle and northern Scotland; however, pale green and pink to vibrant reds, blues, and violets can sometimes light up the night sky, especially in the north of the UK. The Met Office stated on Thursday that there was a chance of seeing the display over the next couple of nights, with sightings most likely across Scotland and possibly into northern England.
Key Facts
- The shimmering display occurs when energy and charged particles from the sun travel towards Earth and collide with the Earth's magnetic field.
- The interaction with gases in the upper atmosphere creates blue, purple, green, pink, and red lights.
- Strong solar activity can cause a geomagnetic storm.
- The solar maximum may have occurred in 2024 and 2025, according to the Met Office in January.
- The solar maximum's declining phase can bring strong events.
- Last week's aurora was visible as far south as northern Italy.