Can we see the Northern lights tonight in the UK?

Astronomers and amateur photographers alike have an opportunity of witnessing the spectacular natural light display tonight – here is how to see them. Meteorology experts monitoring particles in the air think this will cause the Northern Lights to be visible tonight. The Aurora borealis are forecasted to peak on December Monday, 14 December from parts of the UK.

But those too busy can, fortunately, catch the Northern Lights for another 24 hours.

The Aurora Borealis are millions of charged particles blasted away from the Sun at one million miles per hour.

And after reacting with Earth’s molecules in the it atmosphere, they create the famous aurora glow.

One of the Sun’s largest solar flares in recent times allowed astronomers to predict when the Northern Lights could be heading our way.

The Northern Lights generally are generally best visible in countries such as Norway and Canada.

They are usually seen as a greenish celestial spectacle twinkling in the sky.

Each light display is known as an aurora and they are also referred to as the Southern Lights and Polar Lights.

The best opportunity of experiencing the Northern lights in the UK is from the North of England or North Scotland.

There is no specific place to look in the sky, meaning it is best to watch when it is extremely dark in the late evening for those in the UK.

The Northern Lights usually resemble faint clouds but photographers can capture their greenish glow with long exposures.

The chances were initially high for people in the far northern US and even as far south a North Carolina.

However, such forecasts are not certain now, but anyone hopeful of seeing the Northern Lights in the far north of the US could try keeping an eye out prior to midnight.

Astronomers have also announced how gas giant Jupiter and ringed planet Saturn will come so close together this month they will create a rare “double planet” phenomenon for the first time in 800 years.

And US-based space agency NASA has revealed its first team of astronauts will also be heading for the Moon.

source: express.co.uk