By Iain Todd

Published: Monday, 14 October 2024 at 09:56 AM

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Displays of the Northern Lights were visible from many parts of the UK over the weekend of 10 – 13 October 2024, causing ethereal wisps of green and red to stream across the night sky.

The Northern Lights – or aurora borealis – have become more frequent and intense over the past year as the Sun reaches the peak of its 11-year Solar Cycle.

Aurora chasers are still beaming from the amazing Northern Lights display of 10 May 2024, and the weekend provided another opportunity to witness one of nature’s greatest spectacles.

Many observers were able to capture images of the Northern Lights on their cameras and smartphones, such was the intensity.

Rebecca Saxton, who captured an image of the aurora over Great Chishill Windmill near Royston, UK (see below), notes that last night’s display was of a different kind to the one seen earlier this year.

“I feel so lucky that I got to see the aurora so far south in the twice in one year,” she says

“The colours were very different to the display in May, with much more red and orange in the sky.”

Find out how to capture a display with our guide on photographing the aurora.

What causes aurora?

Aurora displays are the visual culmination of solar phenomena interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.

Charged particles emanating from the Sun – known as the ‘solar wind’ – hit Earth’s magnetic field and cause beautiful displays, such as those seen last night.

At times when the Sun is more active, on Earth we see more frequent and more intense displays.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory – which observes and monitors the Sun – recorded an X1.8 flare on 8 October, and captured the image below.

‘X’ denotes this as one of the most intense types of flare emitted by the Sun.

The US Space Weather Prediction Center then recorded a ‘G5’ or ‘extreme’ geomagnetic storm late on 10 October and into the early hours of 11 October.

The UK’s weather-monitoring service also recorded increased solar activity.

“A fast coronal mass ejection related to a large flare and filament combination that left the Sun on 9 October arrived at Earth through the second half of 10 October and is having ongoing effects, including Severe Geomagnetic storms,” a statement from the UK Met Office said.

“Aurora has been sighted as far south as southern England and on the Continent.”

The Met Office then noted that chances of aurora displays would continue into the weekend, although they would ease and become more confined to northern latitudes by Sunday 13 October.

Here’s our pick of the best aurora images from 10 – 13 October we’ve received so far.

Did you capture any images of the aurora? Don’t forget to send us your images – we’d love to see them.

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