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  1. #1
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Northern lights: Aurora seen across UK in spectacular display

    In a very rare display, the northern lights were seen as far south as Kent and Cornwall on Sunday night.


    Across more northern areas of the UK, the display was one of the best seen in a very long time by BBC Weather Watchers.


    An aurora is formed by a solar flare erupting on the Sun, sending charged particles towards Earth which interact with our atmosphere.


    More displays are expected in the coming nights.


    IMAGE SOURCE,BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / KEV B
    Image caption,Vibrant green colours of the aurora filling the whole sky in the Shetland Islands

    IMAGE SOURCE,SIMON BROWN
    Image caption,The green lights were projected onto south side of Lough Neagh in County Armagh, Northern Ireland

    IMAGE SOURCE,BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / BRASS IN THE BRAES
    Image caption,Bright green and deep red colours filled the sky in the Scottish Highlands

    IMAGE SOURCE,KARL MCCARTHY
    Image caption,A kaleidoscope of colours was cast over the Brecon Beacons in south Wales

    In the UK, we can often see the northern lights in Scotland, but they are rarely spotted in southern England.


    On Sunday, there were sightings there as well as Northern Ireland, south Wales and Norfolk.


    IMAGE SOURCE,BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / JAMIE
    Image caption,The lights are rarely seen in Kent, southern England

    Over the last few days, a strong solar flare on the Sun's surface was directed towards Earth with charged particles reaching our atmosphere on Sunday night.


    The charged particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen which then emit green and red colours over our poles.







    If it's a strong solar flare, the charged particles can travel further away from the poles into middle latitudes such as southern England.


    There may be another opportunity to see the northern lights on Monday night where skies are clear.


    IMAGE SOURCE,BBC WEATHER WATCHER / SHIRLEY YOU CANT BE CIRRUS
    Image caption,One BBC weather watcher captured the strong pink and purple hues covering the Norfolk sky on Sunday night

    Photographer Gary Pearson, who watched the display from Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk on Sunday, said: "We had a fantastic showing from the northern lights last night.


    "The aurora was clearly visible to the naked eye, though it was the long exposure taken by the camera that picked up the extremely vivid colours."


    IMAGE SOURCE,GARY PEARSON
    Image caption,Photographer Gary Pearson captured the rare lights cast over Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk

    In the heart of Teesside, County Durham, revellers witnessed a blast of green and red light at Grassholme Observatory.


    IMAGE SOURCE,GRASSHOLME OBSERVATORY
    Image caption,At Grassholme Observatory, County Durham, green and red lights filled the sky

    IMAGE SOURCE,BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / CAMBUS BOOLER
    Image caption,In Stirling, Scotland, the aurora was in full view

    The Sun goes through an 11-year solar cycle measured in terms of how active its magnetic field is. As this magnetic field changes, so does the amount of activity on the Sun's surface.


    The last solar minimum was in 2020, so activity on the Sun has been increasing since then and it is currently the most active since 2014.


    Solar maximum is expected in 2025, more frequent displays of the aurora are likely in the coming years.


    IMAGE SOURCE,BBC WEATHER WATCHERS / LIVVY
    Image caption,More yellow tones were seen in the aurora in Argyll and Bute, Scotland
    Shalom

  2. #2
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Needless to say I missed it and my two eldest in Iceland missed it. Went out tonight in search of the Aurora with the dog and returned wet and even more sick.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Your kids in Iceland can probably see the aurora borealis any night since Iceland is far enough north for it to be a regular occurrence.

    I went to Yellowknife in Canada to see them once. It was amazing.
    Last edited by misskit; 28-02-2023 at 06:48 AM.

  4. #4
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    It really is on my bucket list!

    If I can see it tonight I'll be a happy chappy.

    Need to venture higher where there's less light pollution.

    C'mon doggy, walkies..

  5. #5
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    Saw them in December in Yorkshire, it was a spectacular display of nature at its best, but nothing like the doctored photos that appear in the press.

    It seems to have become the latest must do bucket list experience, cf. full moon parties, sunrise at angkor wat, ayers rock trek, going vegan, cycling to work etc.etc.

  6. #6
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe 90 View Post
    my two eldest in Iceland missed it.
    Doing the month's shopping two days early?

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