{"id":64804,"date":"2024-10-14T09:56:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T09:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/17f50e21-f059-4734-86b8-ce67d511f513"},"modified":"2024-10-14T10:39:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T10:39:39","slug":"aurora-alert-northern-lights-put-on-stunning-display-over-the-weekend-here-are-some-of-the-best-images","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/aurora-alert-northern-lights-put-on-stunning-display-over-the-weekend-here-are-some-of-the-best-images\/","title":{"rendered":"Aurora alert! Northern Lights put on stunning display over the weekend. Here are some of the best images"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Iain Todd\n <\/p>

Published: Monday, 14 October 2024 at 09:56 AM<\/p>

\n\n

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.<\/p>

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<\/a>.<\/p>

Aurora captured by Andrew Morl over Whitburn Windmill, Sunderland, UK, 10 October 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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

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

\"Northern
Northern Lights on the Jurassic Coast, captured by Louie-Joe Findlater, Kimmeridge Bay, Devon, UK, 11 October 2024. Equipment: iPhone 14 smartphone<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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.<\/p>

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

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

Find out how to capture a display with our guide on photographing the aurora<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Rebecca Saxton over Great Chishill Windmill, Royston, UK, 10 October 2024, with a Nikon D750 camera and 24-70mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure>

What causes aurora?<\/strong><\/h2>

Aurora displays<\/a> are the visual culmination of solar phenomena interacting with Earth’s magnetic field<\/a>.<\/p>

Charged particles emanating from the Sun \u2013 known as the ‘solar wind’ \u2013 hit Earth’s magnetic field and cause beautiful displays, such as those seen last night.<\/p>

At times when the Sun is more active, on Earth we see more frequent and more intense displays.<\/p>

\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Lyndsay King from Glenarm, County Antrim, UK, 10 October 2024, with an iPhone 14<\/figcaption><\/figure>

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory \u2013 which observes and monitors the Sun \u2013 recorded an X1.8 flare on 8 October, and captured the image below.<\/p>

‘X’ denotes this as one of the most intense types of flare emitted by the Sun.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

\"NASA
NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory image of an X1.8 solar flare, seen as a bright flash in the centre of the solar disk, 8 October 2024. Credit: NASA\/SDO<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The UK’s weather-monitoring service also recorded increased solar activity.<\/p>

“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.<\/p>

“Aurora has been sighted as far south as southern England and on the Continent.”<\/p>

\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Darren Thompson, Darlington, UK, with a Pixel 7 smartphone<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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.<\/p>

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

\"Aurora
Aurora captured by Andrew Morl over Whitburn Windmill, Sunderland, UK, 10 October 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora borealis captured by Andrew Morl over the seafront in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, UK<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora Borealis over Hillsborough Forest Park, County Down<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights over Blackburn, UK, captured by Christopher Hodgson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights over Blackburn, UK, captured by Christopher Hodgson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Darren Thompson, Darlington, UK, with a Pixel 7 smartphone<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora borealis over the ‘Voyager’ sculpture at Laytown beach, County Meath, Ireland, 10 October 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Lyndsay King from Glenarm, County Antrim, UK, 10 October 2024, with an iPhone 14<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Lyndsay King from Glenarm, County Antrim, UK, 10 October 2024, with an iPhone 14<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Max Reilly, Downpatrick, County Down, UK, 10 October 2024, with an iPhone 15<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Rebecca Saxton over Great Chishill Windmill, Royston, UK, 10 October 2024, with a Nikon D750 camera and 24-70mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Sarah Higgs over Grimsby, Lincolnshire, UK, 10 October 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora borealis captured by Rachelle Swail over Strangford, County Down, 10 October 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora photographed by Aimee Birch from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, UK with an iPhone 12 Pro smartphone, 11 October 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"'Eye
‘Eye of the Storm’ aurora by Gaurav Singh, Nova Scotia, Canada, 10 October 2024. Equipment: Canon 77D camera, Sigma f\/2.8 lens, ISO 1600, 4″<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora over London, by Arash Sefidgaran, Mitcham Common, London, UK, 10-11 October 2024. Equipment: Nikon Z6II camera, Tamron 15-30mm f\/2.8 lens, Exif: 8s, f\/7.1, ISO:5000. Edited in Lightroom and Photoshop<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Essex
Essex aurora by Harry McQueen, Mountnessing, Essex, UK, 10 October 2024. Equipment: Canon EOS 550D DSLR camera, Tokina 11-16mm lens, 11mm, f\/2.8, 8 seconds, ISO800. Software: Affinity Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights of Canada, captured by Joseph Kuklo, Osoyoos, B.C, Canada, 11 October 2024. Equipment: iPhone 16 smartphone<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights and phone light, by Keith Webster, 12 August 2024, Tavistock, Devon, UK. Equipment: Xiaomi Redim Note 13 Pro smartphone. Settings: F1.65, 30s, 6.19mm, ISO 6400. Keith says: “A friend walked past while holding his mobile. He did not know I was taking the photo.”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights on the Jurassic Coast, captured by Louie-Joe Findlater, Kimmeridge Bay, Devon, UK, 11 October 2024. Equipment: iPhone 14 smartphone<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora borealis captured by Omar Hashmi, Preston, Lancashire, UK, 11 October 2024. Equipment: iPhone 14 Pro Max. Exposure: 10 seconds exposure, 12 MP, Image 3024 x 4032, ISO 2000, 25 mm, -0.1 ev, f 1.78<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora Borealis over Levi, Finland, captured by Parth Patel, 5 October 2024. Equipment” Sony a6700 camera, Tamron 17-70mm lens, f\/2.8 @ 17mm focal length. Exposure: 5″, ISO 1600. Software: Adobe Photoshop 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Back
Back garden aurora captured by Paul Marshall, Leeds, UK, 10 October 2024 using an iPhone smartphone.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern lights captured by Raghuvamsh Chavali on 9-10 October 2024 from Ontario, Canada. Equipment: iPhone 16 Pro Max smartphone, Sony A7III<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Aurora
Aurora captured by Sonia Turkington from Moseley, Tamside, 11 October 2024. Equipment: Google 8 Pixel Pro smartphone, 6 second exposure<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Northern
Northern Lights captured by Zachary Hope, Broadstairs, Kent, 10 October 2024. Equipment: Google Pixel 4a smartphone, tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>