Stargazers share ‘wild’ images of northern lights seen over UK, US and Russian skies
People in several parts of the UK, US, Canada, and Russia have reported seeing spectacular northern lights across the night sky on Thursday.
People in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England, as well as some living in parts of Canada, the US, and Russia, took to social media to share images of northern lights.
The UK Met Office had predicted that there was a good chance of seeing the space weather phenomenon late at night on Thursday.
Auroras occur when charged particles unleashed from the Sun collide with gases in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, creating colourful displays in the sky, especially around the planet’s magnetic north and south poles.
In the northern hemisphere, these are called aurora borealis, and cover latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.
A few time lapses of tonight's #northernlights #AuroraBorealis in #eryri North Wales. Not that strong but a few rays & colour @Netweather @metoffice @ThePhotoHour @StormHour #Astrophotography #pixel8a pic.twitter.com/H8fwsSLhBN
— Keith R (@karnlt) September 12, 2024
When the Sun’s activity is strong, the light display tends to expand to a greater area in the sky, and can be seen even as far south as the UK.
“We’ve had a coronal mass ejection from the sun in the last few days that arrived to Earth this morning,” meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said.
Sun news September 11: Sun stuff headed our way
A blob of solar material and magnetic fields is coming our way. Yesterday’s M1.2 flare from AR3814 produced a full halo event that suggests sun-stuff might be headed toward Earth—and indeed, a component of the coronal mass ejection… pic.twitter.com/0rhDSP474M— Dr. C. Alex Young (@TheSunToday) September 11, 2024
“The geomagnetic activity is already happening, but it’s not dark enough to see anything. The activity will be continuing throughout this evening and there’s a chance of seeing it,” he said.
It’s a beautiful clear and sharp night in Alnwick, with the stars bright and the northern lights just dusting the sky with purple and green. pic.twitter.com/GoqX15Odi2
— Brycchan Carey (@Brycchan) September 13, 2024
The colour of the display depends on the gas in the atmosphere being excited by the charged particles, and on how much energy is being exchanged between the two.
NE Scotland 12.9.24 pic.twitter.com/jEebcztVCA
— Lorraine@sharkey (@ma11ing) September 12, 2024
For instance, oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light or a red light while nitrogen tends to give off a blue hue.
You might want to look up at the sky tonight because there's the chance of seeing the aurora 🌟
Clear skies for most overnight will make for ideal viewing conditions, with sightings possible across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England ✨ pic.twitter.com/ewAGUPrqyd— Met Office (@metoffice) September 12, 2024
Scientists are still trying to figure out what gives different auroral displays their shapes.
Early this morning I went aurora chasing for 3 hours along highway 4, looking for a gap in the fog & clouds. I found 15 minutes worth of this wild & crazy sky (condensed into this time lapse)! #vancouverisland pic.twitter.com/1PClsibfdv
— David McColm (@davidlmccolm) September 12, 2024
The different shapes of the light display may depend on where in the Earth’s upper atmosphere the charged particles enter and also on what caused them to precipitate into the atmosphere, according to Nasa.
I was up all night chasing the Northern Lights again. Best show I have ever seen over North Vancouver this morning. #NorthVan #NorthernLights #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/LTPgYb4V00
— Mark Teasdale ★ (@MarksGonePublic) September 12, 2024
A clear sky in many parts of the UK made for ideal viewing on Thursday despite colder weather.
Those who missed the lights on Thursday may still have a chance to see it on Friday night into Saturday, the Met Office said, adding that the aurora may be weaker.