After 11pm on Friday (10th May) many headed out to snap incredible photographs of the aurora borealis
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said Friday night’s skies will offer a chance for the Northern Lights to be seen.
He said: “Although the shorter nights will limit the visibility window, there’s a good chance to see the aurora, particularly on Friday night”
“Those conditions could continue on Saturday night but we still have to work out some details on where exactly that will be.”
Mr Dixon said the combination of clear skies and enhanced activity from the sun reaching Earth would improve the chances of seeing the display.
Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.
In the northern hemisphere, most of this activity takes place within a band known as the aurora oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.
When activity is strong, this expands to cover a greater area – which explains why displays can be occasionally seen as far south as the UK.
