Best spot to see Northern Lights tonight as uncommon amber alert issued for UK
Stargazers are in for a treat tonight as the Northern Lights could be visible in parts of the UK. Aurora Watch has issued a rare amber alert, meaning a lucky few in the most northern part of Scotland might be able to spot the phenomena.
But don’t fret if you’re not in Scotland, as a green alert is also in place for northern England and a yellow alert covers the east of Scotland. This means many people could have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the lights from their own homes – provided the clouds don’t spoil the show.
The reason we’re seeing the Aurora Borealis more frequently is because the sun is currently in its period of greatest activity. This means we could be treated to more colourful displays of the Northern Lights until mid-next year.
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The sun typically follows an 11-year cycle, with periods of intense activity followed by a quiet phase. During these active bursts, known as solar maximum, the sun releases charged particles that travel through space at around one million miles per hour.
(Image: AuroraWatch)
Some of these particles are captured by Earth’s magnetic field and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules in our atmosphere, reports the Mirror.
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