Northern Lights: UK treated to fantastic display of aurora to start 2025
Solar activity increased on New Year’s Eve with a geomagnetic storm sending bursts of energy – charged particles – directed towards Earth.
These eventually entered our atmosphere on Wednesday evening where interactions with oxygen and nitrogen create the vivid colours of the aurora.
Oxygen atoms glow green – the colour most often seen in the Northern Lights.
Nitrogen atoms emit purple, pink and red.
With it being a particularly strong geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights travel further from the poles to lower latitudes across the UK.
The Met Office Space Weather Centre forecasts suggest that with another eruption of charged particles expected to reach Earth over the weekend, there’ll be another opportunity to see the Northern Lights.
Cloud permitting of course.
The UK was treated to a spectacular display of the Northern Lights as 2025 kicked off with a bang. The aurora borealis, a natural light display that is usually only visible in the polar regions, made a rare appearance in the skies above the UK, much to the delight of stargazers and photographers alike.
The mesmerizing dance of green, purple, and pink lights painted the night sky in a breathtaking display that left onlookers in awe. Social media was flooded with photos and videos of the stunning phenomenon, with many people sharing their excitement at witnessing such a rare event.
Experts attribute the unusually strong display of the Northern Lights to a powerful geomagnetic storm that hit Earth’s magnetic field, causing the aurora to be visible at lower latitudes than usual. This rare occurrence provided a magical start to the new year for those lucky enough to witness it.
The Northern Lights are a reminder of the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and their appearance in the UK served as a reminder of the unpredictable and awe-inspiring power of nature. As we move forward into 2025, let’s continue to cherish and protect our planet so that future generations can also marvel at the beauty of the Northern Lights.
Tags:
Northern Lights, UK, aurora borealis, 2025, natural phenomenon, celestial display, light show, astronomy, UK weather, skywatching, spectacular event, solar activity, geomagnetic storm
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