Credit: Mike-Hubert.com, via Shutterstock
The people of Manchester could be in for a summer treat as not only is the weather expected to improve with sunshine and warmer temperatures this weekend, but also a possible aurora display. The Met Office has said the Northern Lights could be visible in the UK tonight, including Manchester, due to ‘enhanced auroral activity’.
Aurora Watch UK, a service provided by Space Physicists at Lancaster University, reported an amber alert for an aurora earlier today (August 8), so there’s a possibility that there could be more in the North West skies tonight.
How does an aurora display occur?
The Northern Lights (or aurora borealis) occur as a result of solar activity and from collisions of charged particles in the solar wind colliding with molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Depending on which gas molecules are hit and where they are in the atmosphere, different amounts of energy are released as different wavelengths of light.
According to the Met Office, “Oxygen gives off green light when it is hit 60 miles above the Earth, whilst at 100-200 miles rare, all-red auroras are produced. Nitrogen causes the sky to glow blue yet when higher in the atmosphere the glow has a purple hue.”
Credit: Secret Manchester Will the Northern Lights be visible in the Manchester skies tonight?
But what are the chances of Manchester witnessing the Northern Lights tonight? The Met Office has reported a likelihood of G1-G2 (Minor to Moderate Geomagnetic Storms) on August 8 going into August 9 with slight chance of G3 (Strong Geomagnetic Storm) and moderate solar flares likely.
The meteorologists said: “Expected Coronal Mass Ejection and coronal hole fast wind influence is forecast for 08-09 August, which will likely enhance auroral activity. Sightings are possible over Scotland, especially the north, given clear skies.
“There is a chance of visible activity for parts of the north of England and Ireland given good conditions, with the peak chance likely from late on 08 August. However, confidence in the timing remains low, and visibility will be limited by the short hours of darkness and any potential cloud cover. Aurora activity likely declining by the end of the period.”
Credit: The Met Office
According to the aurora maps from The Met Office, the best time to see the Northern Lights in the UK is between 9pm and midnight on Friday night (August 8). The sun will set in Manchester tonight at 8.51pm and it typically takes 30 to 60 minutes after sunset for it to become fully dark, making between 9.30pm and 10pm a good time to potentially catch the spectacular Northern Lights.
However, despite the warmer weather, the skies are not looking that clear in Manchester tonight with it predicted to be partly cloudy at night time and meaning Northern Lights visibility could be hindered. Tonight’s weather forecast in the North West from the Met Office, says: “Generally dry this evening with some late sunshine in places. Mostly dry overnight with clear periods but the odd rogue shower is possible. Breezy at times with brisk south-westerly winds in coastal regions and over the higher ground. Minimum temperature 11 °C.”