We could see a display of Aurora Borealis this evening.
The Aurora at Garry Beach, Tolsta, Isle of Lewis, one of many spots where you can see the Northern Lights(Image: © Ross Parry / SWNS Group)
Scots have been issued with a ‘red alert’ for the Northern Lights this evening, with a beautiful night sky display possible within hours. Stargazers are set to be in for a treat tonight with much of the UK- but more notably Scotland– to be lit up with the gorgeous naturally-occurring light show.
A red alert has been put out by AuroraWatch UK, meaning a sighting is highly likely (providing the sky remains clear and not too cloudy), reports the Mirror. The best chance of seeing them in the UK is in Scotland tonight, September 30.
Earlier this month, the Met Office explained how there has been heightened solar activity, increasing the chances for people to see Northern Lights.
A red alert issued by AuroraWatch UK means that the lights are likely to be visible from anywhere in the country. The service is run by scientists in the Space and Planetary Physics group at Lancaster University’s Department of Physics.
Possible timings have not been given for the alert, but keep your eyes on the skies tonight.
Statistically, the best time to see an aurora is between 10pm and midnight, though sometimes the aurora can be seen throughout the night, according to the experts.
But loud cover and light pollution can affect whether you will actually be able to see the spectacular celestial event this evening.
The Northern Lights could be visible tonight(Image: Getty Images)
However, tonight won’t be the only chance to catch it.
The national agency previously said that the best day this week to see the Northern Lights in the UK will be on Thursday evening for people in Scotland.
It states: “The next potential auroral enhancement is expected on Thursday evening, which could allow for some visibility across similar geomagnetic latitudes as Scotland, depending on the extent of cloud cover.”
While on the strength of the solar activity over the next four days it says: “Moderate activity is expected to continue with occasional Moderate class flares. There is a chance of an isolated Strong (X-class) flare.”
Next year will bring with it a once-in-a-decade phenomenon; the solar maximum.
This rare event sees the Sun have heightened magnetic activity and scientists are expecting it to peak until March 2026, before fading again until the mid 2030s.
Scots have been treated to many sightings of the Northern Lights in the earlier months of this year, with Orkney and Shetland often seeing the most impressive displays.
But the lights have been known to be spotted further south in other Scots cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow too.
Your best chance of seeing the lights tonight depends on cloud cover, but areas with low light pollution will offer better viewing conditions.
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