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Exact time you could spot Northern Lights & where you'll get the best view

18 May 2024 , 11:12
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Watch the Northern Lights dazzle Britain
Watch the Northern Lights dazzle Britain's skies in the video player above

THE best time and place to watch the Northern Lights this weekend has been revealed. 

The Aurora Borealis dazzled the nation last weekend - and is set to make another appearance in coming days. 

Last weekend's stunning display could be seen as far south as Minster on Sea in Kent eiqruidrhieprw
Last weekend's stunning display could be seen as far south as Minster on Sea in KentCredit: Alamy

This weekend, northern parts of the country may yet be able to catch another glimpse of the phenomenon.

A "red alert" has been issued - meaning aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK.

However, some parts of Britain will get a better show than others. 

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The Met Office space weather department says "enhancement to the aurora is likely into early May 18" in the Northern Hemisphere.

They added: "The aurora may become visible as far south as parts of Scotland where skies are clear.

"Mainly background aurora conditions are expected thereafter."

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are large expulsions of plasma from the sun.

The forecaster's space weather map even shows us what is the best time to catch a glimpse.

It shows that the lights will hit the northern top of Scotland at midnight on Sunday.

It comes after scientists in the Space and Planetary Physics group at Lancaster University’s Department of Physics issued a “red alert” for Aurora Borealis.

AuroraWatch UK explained: "Aurora is likely to be visible by eye from Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland; possibly visible from elsewhere in the UK.

"Photographs of aurora are likely from anywhere in the UK."

The visibility of the Northern Lights was increased because of an "extreme" geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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The NOAA said the G5 geomagnetic storm, which is considered extreme and is the strongest level of geomagnetic storm, hit earth last Thursday.

The cause of this storm was 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.

Brits could get another glimpse of the Northern Lights tonight
Brits could get another glimpse of the Northern Lights tonightCredit: Reuters

Sarah Grealish

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