People spotted even rarer ‘Southern Lights’ last night and reckon it was much better than Northern Lights

For those of you who got to witness the amazing Northern Lights last night, there’s something you may have missed.

According some people on social media, they saw the 'Southern Lights'.

Now, you may not have heard of them, but they’re very much real.

Many Brits were shocked to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights last night (10 May) in one of the clearest sightings after a huge solar storm.

And those in the UK could even get the chance to see them again tonight (11 May) as well.

Some have already claimed that the light show saved them some pennies now they don’t have to travel all the way to Iceland to see them.

While the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) streak across places like Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and the Scandinavian countries, the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) occur around the South Pole.

So, if you live near Antarctica and Australia, Tasmania, or New Zealand, those are the lights you’re probably familiar with.

Those who spotted the rarity that are the Southern Lights took to social media to share their view, with some claiming they’re much better than the Northern Lights we were blessed with in the UK.

while everyone in the europe was seeing the northern lights, here in australia the southern lights (aka aurora australis) lit up the sky early this morning pic.twitter.com/EWhzMX1iAL

— sara⁷🍊 (@xapobangpo7) May 10, 2024

One user wrote: "Move aside Northern Lights, Southern lights are more beautiful! Incredible live visuals of Aurora - an after effects of ongoing solar Storm over New Zealand!"

A second agreed: "While everyone in the europe was seeing the northern lights, here in australia the southern lights (aka aurora australis) lit up the sky early this morning.”

Move aside Northern Lights, Southern lights are more beautiful!

Incredible live visuals of Aurora - an after effects of ongoing solar Storm over New Zealand!

📸 - @AndrewDickson13#solarstorm #aurora pic.twitter.com/TbsPXh4VyB

— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) May 10, 2024

While another claimed: "I saw the Southern lights, they were way better."

And someone else decided they’d use this as an opportunity to jet off and see them for themselves, adding: “Already making plans to visit Tassie [Tasmania] around this time next year.”

Unlike here in the UK, most places underneath the roadmaps for the Southern and Northern Lights can catch a glimpse almost any time of the year, but you need to make sure you’re in an area with clear and dark skies - which is usually winter.

The Northern Lights are usually seen the most from August through to April, and the Southern Lights are commonly seen from March to September.

If you’re not sure how to catch a peek, a meteorologist has shared some tips to make sure you're in the right place at the right time.