Rare phenomenon: Aurora Borealis, aka Northern Lights, seen across UK
What's the story
The sky is green!
In a very rare display (one that we still can't believe!), the majestic phenomenon of Aurora Borealis, i.e., Northern Lights, dazzled the skies of the United Kingdom on Sunday night!
The light spectacle was seen across Britain and Ireland and reached as far south as Cornwell and Kent.
More details to follow, so read on.
Concept
Sky featured hues of green, purple, pink
The onlookers saw the skies of the UK turning into a shimmering canvas of greens, purples, and pinks on Sunday night.
Many took to social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to share their best-clicked snaps of the rare occurrence.
Though one can witness Northern Lights in Scotland in the UK, it is a surprise that people could spot them in southern England, too!
Met report
UK's Met Office forecast clear conditions
The UK's Met Office on Sunday night tweeted, "A coronal hole high-speed stream arrived this evening combined with a rather fast coronal mass ejection leading to #Aurora sightings across the UK."
It also shared some photographs of the magnetic phenomenon that featured different color combinations, as seen in North Uist, North Wales, Cambridgeshire, and Shropshire.
While North Uist was in green, Shropshire showcased pink.
Twitter Post
Take a look at the pictures
A coronal hole high speed stream arrived this evening combined with a rather fast coronal mass ejection leading to #Aurora sightings across the UK@MadMike123 in North Uist@Jon9tea in North Wales@paulhaworth in Cambridgeshire@alex_murison in Shropshire pic.twitter.com/8JhqxPbcFK
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 26, 2023
Occurrence
Lights likely to be seen on Monday night too
Skygazers in the UK should gear up for another visual treat of the Aurora Borealis as the Met Office predicted another display to take place on Monday night.
The authorities concerned said the Aurora Borealis "may be visible as far south as central England tonight where skies remain clear," adding the lights are likely to be seen again on Monday night as well.
Twitter Post
Here's what Met Office posted
The Aurora Borealis may be visible as far south as central England tonight where skies remain clear
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 26, 2023
The Northern Lights are also likely to be seen again on Monday night pic.twitter.com/EBedkN8ytd
Bytes
Aurora was visible to naked eye: Photographer Gary Pearson
One of the spectators was photographer Gary Pearson, who watched the display from Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk and told BBC, "We had a fantastic showing from the Northern Lights last night!"
"The Aurora was clearly visible to the naked eye, though it was the long exposure taken by the camera that picked up the extremely vivid colors," he added.
Phenomenon
How did Northern Lights make their way across UK?
Over the past few days, Earth has been receiving a strong solar flare with charged particles that reached our planet's atmosphere on Sunday night.
The particles in question interacted with oxygen and nitrogen, emitting green and red colors in the sky.
These particles are too strong, which is why they could travel further away from the poles to middle-latitude regions like England.