3 days ago
How to see the Northern Lights in Scotland tonight
Earlier today, Aurora Watch UK issued four red alerts, the highest level of warning, indicating unusually strong geomagnetic storms.
The alerts were sent out at 9am, 11am, 4pm, and 6pm, suggesting a significant chance of auroral activity being visible across parts of the UK, particularly in Scotland.
Image (David Pomphrey)
READ MORE: How to take a photo of the Northern Lights? Tips shared
The Northern Lights are caused by solar particles interacting with Earth's atmosphere, producing a vibrant light show in the night sky.
This reaction, sparked by geomagnetic storms, often appears as shimmering waves of green, pink, and purple light.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) has offered some tips for those hoping to catch a glimpse of the stunning phenomenon.
They advised: "The aurora sits 100s of kms up in the sky above the height of the clouds so you'll need cloud-free skies.
"The sky also needs to be dark. Get away from streetlights. A bright full moon will also wash out the light from faint aurora."
(Image: David Pomphrey)
READ MORE: Incredible pictures of the Northern Lights from Glasgow
The BGS added that while the best viewing window is typically between 10pm and 2am, auroras can appear at any time overnight depending on the strength of the geomagnetic activity.
They also noted that the further north you are, the better your chances, with the Northern Lights most often spotted in Scotland and Northern Ireland during strong solar events.
The aurora is more commonly visible around the spring and autumn equinoxes, but strong geomagnetic storms can create rare displays throughout the year.
Keep your eyes on the skies tonight—clouds permitting, Scotland could be in for a spectacular celestial show.
