The sun nearing the peak of its solar cycle means we’ve seen more space weather events in recent months, according to forecasters
Social media users have shared photos of the Aurora Borealis across Ireland, as sightings of the lights were predicted in Scotland and Northern Ireland earlier by the UK’s Met Office.
The lights were also visible in southern counties Cork, Clare and Wexford.
Academic Jim Wild (49), who researches the aurora and space weather at Lancaster University in England, said: “My research focuses on the physics of the connections between the Sun and the Earth.
“Over the years, I’ve been to the Arctic Circle several times to make measurements of the aurora, but it’s really special to see the northern lights from your back garden with your whole family.”
Relatively clear skies were forecast for much of Ireland and the UK last night, creating a “decent chance of visibility”.
Kilworth Camp, Co.Cork. Photo: @auroraalertsIRE
A spokesman for Met Office UK said there had been “more space weather events in recent months”, including the Northern Lights, because the sun was nearing the peak of its solar cycle.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said there was a chance of some visible auroras across parts of the UK on Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday.
The auroras on Earth, which are most commonly seen over high polar latitudes but can spread south, are chiefly influenced by geomagnetic storms which originate from activity on the Sun.
The sun works on a cycle of around 11 years called the solar cycle – with peak sunspot activity on the surface of the Sun referred to as solar maximum.
Sunspots give the potential for Earth-directed releases of large bursts of energy, called coronal mass ejections, which can lead to aurora visibility.
Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.
As they collide, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.
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