You might catch the aurora borealis dancing in the skies again this weekend
We promise we’re not pulling your leg, but apparently for the hundredth time this year, the Northern Lights are set to return to UK skies this weekend.
Brits have been told to brace themselves for a stunning display up above more often than we would care to admit so far this year – and on a few occasions, some lucky buggers really did get to see them.
It’s no wonder that the news that the natural phenomenon could put on a show once again is wearing a bit thin at this point – but imagine how livid you will be if you miss them, eh?
Forget the boy who cried wolf, as you will probably have us down as the lads who cried the Northern Lights.
Don’t shoot the messenger, though, as we are merely just passing on some information from the Met Office, which has issued some advice about how you can hopefully get a glimpse at the aurora borealis this weekend.
And seen as though they usually only coming out to play within the Arctic circle, it’s worth saving yourself a few quid on a pricey holiday in favour of copping them in your own back garden instead.
For those who don’t know, the Northern Lights are a result of a ‘coronal mass ejection’ (CME), which the Met Office explains is the large expulsion of plasma from the sun’s corona.
When these particles hit our atmosphere, they create the stunning aurora.
And we’ve got a huge ‘solar flare’ to thank for sending the Northern Lights our way this time around.
The CME has been hurtling at Earth at hundreds of miles a second, and when they impact our planet’s magnetosphere – which is the space around our planet that is taken up by its magnetic field – then geomagnetic storms take place.
The Northern Lights might make another appearance in the UK this weekend (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
These cause aurora displays such as the Northern Lights, while disturbances to satellite communications and power grids being damaged are also a possibility, so it’s swings and roundabouts, really.
According to the Met, we could be in for a period of geomagnetic activity within a matter of hours tonight (4 October).
Meteorologists reckon that being in a spot where skies are clear in either Scotland, Northern Ireland or northern England will give you the best chance of catching the Northern Lights.
Space Weather Manager Krista Hammond explained that they are expected to be most visible on Saturday (5 October) night, the Mirror reports.
“There is the potential for a coronal mass ejection to arrive at Earth late on Friday or early on Saturday, which could lead to visible aurora for Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England,” the boffin said.
“In addition, we recently observed an X9 solar flare – the largest of this solar cycle so far.
Saturday night is supposed to be the best time to see them (Getty Stock Image)
She continued: “The accompanying coronal mass ejection is likely to arrive at Earth overnight on Saturday into Sunday, meaning that enhanced auroral visibility is possible further south across central England and similar latitudes, though cloud and rain could hamper viewing potential for some.”
Discussing the odds of actually seeing the Northern Lights, Hammond added: “Saturday night has the greatest likelihood of aurora being visible, with a chance that aurora may be visible further south, across central England and similar latitudes.
“Enhancement to the aurora may persist at higher latitudes throughout the remainder of the outlook period.”
So grab your flasks and your camping chairs, as looks like we’re pulling another all nighter for the Northern Lights this weekend, lads.
Featured Image Credit: Peter Summers/Getty Images/PA
