A new red alert has been issued for May 18 with displays visible anywhere in the UK
Scientists at Aurora Watch UK have issued a red alert that the Northern Lights may be visible in large parts of the UK again on Saturday, May 18, after the spectacular displays last weekend. Scientists from the Space and Planetary Physics group at Lancaster University’s Department of Physics, said: "Aurora is likely to be visible by eye from Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland; possibly visible from elsewhere in the UK.
The Met Office space weather unit says "enhancement to the aurora is likely into early May 18" and added: "The aurora may become visible as far south as parts of Scotland where skies are clear. Mainly background aurora conditions are expected thereafter." The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a G5 geomagnetic storm has been created by a "large, complex" sunspot cluster 17 times the diameter of earth. A solar storm this powerful has not been seen for more than 20 years.
Tonight could be the last display of the current storm, but the BBC reports another solar blast is expected in two weeks when the sunspot that created the Northern Lights rotates back towards the Earth. The Sun is approaching what is called "solar maximum" - a point during an 11-year cycle when its activity is strongest.
The storms are usually most visible in the early hours of the morning. They can be spotted any time from when the sky is dark but are easiest to see at around 2am or 3am. Setting your camera to night mode will ensure the best possible pictures.
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