Where Can You Watch The Northern Lights Tonight In The UK?

The northern lightsLast night, parts of the UK – including Scotland, the north of Wales, and Kent – got an eyeful of the Northern Lights, which are particularly active following an eruption on the surface of the sun.The solar storm is so strong, the hue-shifting display was visible further south than usual. But if you missed the stunning strobes yesterday, don’t worry – the Met Office Space Weather Centre says that tonight (Tuesday 2 September), the Aurora Borealis may be just as beautiful as on Monday.Northern Lights delivered last night from Scotland, north Wales and even down to Norfolk and Kent!Increased solar activity likely to continue tonight with chance of a stronger display.#aurora#northernlightspic.twitter.com/clt5F3uEfR— Simon King (@SimonOKing) September 2, 2025Why are the Northern Lights so bright at the moment?The Northern Lights are actually a type of storm (in this case, a geomagnetic storm). This happens partly because charged particles from the sun react with various gases in the magnetosphere, which usually protects us from solar winds.Nitrogen reacts to create blue and purple, while red and green come from oxygen.One way that these particles can reach Earth’s magnetosphere is through a coronal mass ejection (CME), which happens when plasma and magnetic field are ejected from the sun’s corona (outer layer).These can reach speeds of millions of kilometres an hour. They can trigger geomagnetic storms, which show up as the Northern Lights.A large, very fast CME occurred late on Saturday, 30 August. Its arrival on Earth over the following days is responsible for the bright, far-reaching displays.There is a chance of seeing the aurora tonight across parts of the UK where skies are sufficiently dark and clear https://t.co/oJA9hoYETKFind out more in our latest bloghttps://t.co/S7pKZe4Ovy— Met Office Space (@MetOfficeSpace) September 1, 2025Where can I watch the Northern Lights in the UK tonight?Per the Met Office, tonight’s displays may be so intense that they become “visible to the naked eye, without the need for photographic equipment”. This may be the case further south in the UK than is usual, but the best displays are still likely to be seen in the north. Additionally, northern Scotland and northern England are predicted to have less cloudy skies tonight than in the rest of the UK, meaning the already-closer lights will likely be clearer in those areas too.Cities with more light pollution will make the displays harder to see again. In short, more Northern and less urban spots may have the best odds of getting a great display.Still, the sun’s activity is unpredictable. Krista Hammond, Met Office Space Weather Manager, said: “While the best views are likely further north, anyone with clear, dark skies should keep an eye out.“Forecasts can change rapidly, so we encourage the public to stay updated with the latest information.”Related...Why Haven't Humans Walked On The Moon For 51 Years?This Bizarre Yoghurt Trick Can Cool Your Home – And It’s Backed By ScienceCan You Tell If A Fart Will Stink? Science Says Yes

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