{"id":23891,"date":"2023-02-28T12:45:57","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T11:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=2564"},"modified":"2023-02-28T14:37:49","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T13:37:49","slug":"how-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-britain","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/how-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-britain\/","title":{"rendered":"How to see the Northern Lights in Britain"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are the Northern Lights, and where are the best places to see them on UK shores? <\/p>

By Carys Matthews\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 28 February 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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As Britain glows with glorious spectral illuminations across the night sky, ranging as far south as Cornwall, we look at the extraordinary phenomenon of the Northern Lights, aka Aurora Borealis.<\/div>\n\n
If you have captured any recent images of the Northern Lights that you would like to share with us, email your pictures to photos@countryfile.com or tag your social media post with #BBCCountryfileMagPOTD.<\/div>\n\n
Interested in other celestial events? Check out our guide to sky gazing<\/a>.<\/div>\n

What are the Northern Lights?<\/h2>\n
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The Northern Lights are a spectacular natural show of glowing greens, blues, violets, yellows and sometimes reds seen in the night sky.<\/p>\n

Scientists call this celestial wonder the aurora borealis<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The same light phenomenon van also be seen in the southern hemisphere, where it is known as the aurora australis<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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A solar eruption expels material from the surface of the sun. Credit\/Universal Images via Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

What causes the Northern Lights?<\/h2>\n

This aurora is the result of a solar storm<\/em>. That occurs when eruptions on the sun cause a rapid release of charged solar particles from the sun\u2019s atmosphere. This release of particles is known as a solar wind<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Thrust from the sun, the solar particles shower onto the earth\u2019s upper atmosphere, where the earth\u2019s magnetic field propels them towards the north and south poles. There, the solar particles collide with gas particles in the Earth\u2019s upper atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light. Collisions between different gases result in different coloured lights.<\/p>\n

Solar storms are a normal occurrence, but when activity on the Sun is particularly violent, the light show is more spectacular \u2013 and at these times you have a better chance of seeing the northern lights at more southerly latitudes.<\/p>\n

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Northern Lights over Seacliff Beach with Bass Rock in the distance, East Lothian.\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Where are the best places in the UK to see the Northern Lights?<\/h2>\n

The aurora has been witnessed as far south as Cornwall, as recently as February 2023.<\/p>\n

But you\u2019re better off heading in the other direction. The closer you go to the Arctic, the better your chance of seeing the Northern Lights \u2013 they are more frequently seen in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England than in Wales or the south of England.<\/p>\n

Light pollution often obscures the northern lights, so head to a Dark Sky Site to be in with the best chance.<\/p>\n

There are 10 official Dark Sky sites<\/a> in the UK. that are all great places to star-gaze, but to see the Northern Lights \u2013 as we\u2019ve established \u2013 the most northerly are your best bet. These include Northumberland National Park<\/a>,\u00a0Galloway Forest Park<\/a>\u00a0and the Cairngorms<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other UK sites are also known to be particularly good places to watch the Northern Lights. Here are a few:<\/p>\n