Map reveals exact areas to catch Northern Lights after Brits enjoy solar storm
The NOAA said the G5 geomagnetic storm, which is considered extreme and is the strongest level of geomagnetic storm, hit earth on Thursday and could affect communications, GPS and power grids.OUR map reveals the exact areas to catch the Northern Lights again tonight after Brits were treated to a spectacular solar storm.





Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon also told The Sun the shorter nights “limit the visibility window” but said Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and Wales are likely to get sightings.Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.The NOAA said the lights could be seen as far south as Alabama and southern California in the US.He said there were sightings in parts of Europe on Friday night as well, with the Met Office receiving pictures and information from locations including Prague and Barcelona.”This resulted in some very vivid Aurora sightings across the UK with clear skies for many.”Experts say Scotland and the North of England will be the best places to see any upcoming aurorae tonight.Meteorologist Craig Snell, of the national weather agency, told The Sun the best spots will be isolated and away from the light pollution of big cities.”There’s a little bit of cloud coverage across Scotland and that might scupper visibility,” he explained.
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The sightings reached as far as Ireland, with the Irish weather service Met Eireann posting images of the lights in Dublin and at Shannon Airport in Co Clare.Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.The visibility of the Northern Lights was increased on Friday because of an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
He went on to say there is also potential for visibility on Sunday night.Referring to last night’s display, Kathleen Cunnea, in Great Horkesley, Essex, said: “It was absolutely stunning to see.”He advised the peak times for visibility will be around 10.30pm to 11pm “when it gets really dark”.Met Office maps indicate visibility will begin from around 9pm.The visibility of the Northern Lights was increased because of an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).In the northern hemisphere, most of this activity takes place within a band known as the aurora oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.The phenomena appears as beautiful dancing green and purple ribbons of light that have captivated people for millennia.The lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, were spotted on Friday across the UK, including in Whitley Bay on the north east coast, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Wokingham in Berkshire.”Parts of the south may see some visibility. The activity tonight won’t be as strong as yesterday, it’ll be harder with just the naked eye, you might need a decent camera.”Photos also show the lights in France, Turkey, the Netherlands, Russia, Denmark, Ukraine and Slovakia.Fellow Met Office forecaster Chris Snell, said there were sightings “from top to tail across the country” on Friday.In the northern hemisphere, most of this activity takes place within a band known as the aurora oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.When activity is strong, this expands to cover a greater area – which explains why displays can be occasionally seen as far south as the UK.The cause of this storm is a “large, complex” sunspot cluster and is 17 times the diameter of earth, with the last storm with a G5 rating hitting earth in October 2003, causing power outages in Sweden.
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The cause of this storm is a “large, complex” sunspot cluster and is 17 times the diameter of earth, with the last storm with a G5 rating hitting earth in October 2003, causing power outages in Sweden.
“As far north as you can go,” he said. “The middle of nowhere with nothing polluting the sky. Somewhere very dark, in the countryside, a country park.
He said where he is based in Exeter the lights could be seen on Friday, but he doesn’t expect to be so lucky tonight.
He said: “Geomagnetic activity on Friday night was very strong, reaching a strength which was last seen in the UK in 2003.
It alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.





