'Good chance' the Northern Lights will be visible in UK this weekend

The Northern Lights are a spectacle of nature that continues to fascinate millions around the world - and the UK are in for an absolute treat - as there happens to be a 'good chance' of visibility this weekend.

Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights are one of the most unique wonders of the world.

The natural phenomenon is the result of a 'coronal mass ejection', which the Met Office explains is the large expulsion of plasma from the sun's corona.

When these energised particles hit our atmosphere, it creates the aurora.

"Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are huge bubbles of coronal plasma threaded by intense magnetic field lines that are ejected from the Sun over the course of several hours. CMEs often look like huge, twisted rope, which scientists call 'flux rope,'" NASA added.

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Now, taking to X (Twitter) earlier today (10 November), the Met Office provided us with a positive update on proceedings.

They said: "We're expecting a coronal mass ejection to arrive at Earth later on Saturday or early on Sunday, bringing Moderate to Strong geomagnetic storms. Depending on cloud cover, there's a good chance of visible auroras in northern areas of the UK later on Saturday night."

If you want a good view, as always, try and best to head for an area with clear skies, free from light pollution.

The good thing is you don't need special equipment, as the naked eye is good enough.

The Met Office explained on its space weather site: "From later on 11th Nov until 12th Nov, Minor or Moderate geomagnetic storming is expected to develop due to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection, with a chance of Strong geomagnetic storming occurring.

"There is lower confidence regarding the timing of the peak geomagnetic activity, but with clear skies aurora is likely to be visible overhead across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and similar latitudes during the night of the 11th, with sightings possible as far south as central England and Wales.

"During the following nights reduced geomagnetic activity is expected, with aurora possible across northern Scotland, most likely from the night of 12th Nov onward."

LADbible has contacted the Met Office for additional comment.

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Billy Teets, the director of Dyer Observatory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, explained more about the phenomenon to Space.com.

"These particles are deflected towards the poles of Earth by our planet's magnetic field and interact with our atmosphere, depositing energy and causing the atmosphere to fluoresce," he said.

"Every type of atom or molecule, whether it's atomic hydrogen or a molecule like carbon dioxide, absorbs and radiates its own unique set of colours...

"Some of the dominant colours seen in aurorae are red, a hue produced by the nitrogen molecules, and green, which is produced by oxygen molecules."