Met office northern lights map

Space weather describes changing environmental conditions in near-Earth space. Learn more about Space Weather.

Information about the auroras - what are they and when are you likely to be able to see them This is a very rare occurrence. During more moderate to strong geomagnetic storms Kp , the Aurora borealis often moves southwards across southern Iceland or towards the Faeroes. These auroras can be faintly visible from the UK because they occur at high altitudes. The Sun goes through an 11 year solar cycle, from solar minimum, through solar maximum and back to solar minimum.

Met office northern lights map

This is a short-term forecast of the location and intensity of the aurora. The forecast lead time is the time it takes for the solar wind to travel from the L1 observation point to Earth. The two maps show the North and South poles of Earth respectively. The green ovals turn red when the aurora is forecasted to be more intense. The sunlit side of Earth is indicated by the lighter blue of the ocean and the lighter color of the continents. Aurora can often be observed somewhere on Earth from just after sunset or just before sunrise. The aurora is not visible during daylight hours. The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as a km away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right. The aurora is an indicator of the current geomagnetic storm conditions and provides situational awareness for a number of technologies. It is closely related to the ground induce currents that impact electric power transition. For many people, the aurora is a beautiful nighttime phenomenon that is worth traveling to arctic regions just to observe. It is the only way for most people to actually experience space weather. These links provide a discussion of the aurora phenomena and tips for the best opportunities to view aurora at various locations around the world.

The Royal Photographic Society are experts in photography and have brought together the best advice on photography for the auroras below. During a weak aurora, the colours are very faint and spread out whereas an intense aurora features greater numbers of and brighter colours which can be seen higher in the sky with a distinct arc.

Photo courtesy of Jim Henderson Photography click to enlarge What is the cause of aurora? It is easier to see the northern lights aurora borealis in the UK than you might think. All you need is a dark place, a clear sky and very good timing! The good timing is important as the northern lights are a result of a geomagnetic storm. These storms are short-lived periods of high geomagnetic activity where the Earth's magnetic field changes very quickly and strong electric currents flow high in the atmosphere. The aurora is a consequence of activity on the surface of the Sun. Occasionally there are large explosions on the Sun, and huge amounts of charged particles are thrown out into space.

Find out about how and why the northern lights form, and where to see them in the UK. The northern lights also known as aurora borealis appear as large areas of colour including pale green, pink, shades of red, yellow, blue and violet in the direction due north. During a weak aurora, the colours are very faint and spread out whereas an intense aurora features greater numbers of and brighter colours which can be seen higher in the sky with a distinct arc. The northern lights are best seen in darkness, away from any light pollution. The lights generally extend from 50 miles to as high as miles above the Earth's surface. The northern lights occur as a consequence of solar activity and result from collisions of charged particles in the solar wind colliding with molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Solar winds are charged particles that stream away from the Sun at speeds of around 1 million miles per hour. When the magnetic polarity of the solar wind is opposite to the Earth's magnetic field, the two magnetic fields combine allowing these energetic particles to flow into the Earth's magnetic north and south poles. Auroras usually occur in a band called the annulus a ring about 1, miles across centred on the magnetic pole.

Met office northern lights map

The Northern Lights are a stunning display of glowing, swirling lights in the night sky that have amazed humankind for thousands of years. The Northern Lights - or aurora borealis - appear as bright, swirling curtains of lights in the night sky and range in colour from green to pink and scarlet. The Southern Lights - aurora australis - are seen in latitudes near the South Pole. The lowest part of an aurora is typically 50 miles 80 km above the Earth's surface. The highest part could be miles km above the Earth.

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How you define the first day of winter depends on whether you are referring to the astronomical or meteorological winter. When the magnetic polarity of the solar wind is opposite to the Earth's magnetic field, the two magnetic fields combine allowing these energetic particles to flow into the Earth's magnetic north and south poles. The model uses the solar wind velocity and interplanetary magnetic field measured at the L1 orbit position at 1. Coronal holes are the sources of high speed solar wind streams. During more moderate to strong geomagnetic storms Kp , the Aurora borealis often moves southwards across southern Iceland or towards the Faeroes. A circumzenithal arc is an optical effect which looks like an upside-down rainbow. The best conditions to view the lights are when the sky is dark and clear of any clouds. The excited molecule is unstable and will give up its extra energy by emitting light. Cameras may belong to AuroraWatch UK or to third parties and used with permission. They may benefit from a little post-processing and having shot RAW will help with this, although JPG will still allow you to make some adjustments. To receive automated space weather alerts and warnings, follow us on Twitter or users with a sector specific interest in space weather services can request a specialist space weather account. Note that not all stargazing sites will be suitable for auroral photography.

Finland is one of the best inhabited regions in the world for viewing northern lights, i.

Interested in more information on space weather? BGSauroraAlerts for occasional aurora alerts. How you define the first day of winter depends on whether you are referring to the astronomical or meteorological winter. The northern lights occur as a consequence of solar activity and result from collisions of charged particles in the solar wind colliding with molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Cloud cover ultimately blocks the view of the light. With increasing geomagnetic activity the ovals widen and spread, so that during periods of high geomagnetic activity it becomes possible to see aurora further south in the UK. All-sky camera or webcam. Coronal Mass Ejection An ejection of material from the Sun into interplanetary space. They may benefit from a little post-processing and having shot RAW will help with this, although JPG will still allow you to make some adjustments. Occasionally there are large explosions on the Sun, and huge amounts of charged particles are thrown out into space.