Skies across the UK were recently illuminated with stunning shades of green and pink as the Northern Lights made a rare appearance.
Also known as the Aurora Borealis, this natural phenomenon occurs when eruptions from the sun send charged particles toward Earth. When these particles collide with gases in our atmosphere, they create the colourful light displays seen in the night sky.
Although the Northern Lights are usually visible near the Arctic Circle, periods of intense solar activity can push them much further south. This time, auroras were reportedly spotted as far south as northern Italy, southern Spain, and even the south of France.
I was alerted by a phone app earlier in the evening and managed to take a distant photo from outside my home. However, due to heavy light pollution where I live, the view wasn’t great.
Determined to see more, I headed down to Eastham Ferry on the River Mersey, where I was rewarded with clear and impressive views of the aurora glowing above John Lennon Airport in Liverpool.
Why Did This Happen?
Monday’s display was caused by a severe geomagnetic storm, triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a huge burst of charged particles released from the sun’s surface.
As these particles reached Earth, they interacted with gases in the atmosphere. Oxygen produced green light, while nitrogen created red, blue, and pink hues.
We are currently experiencing a phase known as solar maximum, part of the sun’s roughly 21-year cycle. During this time, the sun produces more sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs, increasing the chances of seeing auroras here on Earth.
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