Understand
Northern Lights illuminate skies across the UK down to England's south coast
Overview
Residents across the UK witnessed the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, on Friday and Saturday evenings due to increased solar activity from coronal mass ejections. While typically seen near the Arctic Circle and northern Scotland, strong activity levels reaching 600nT allowed the phenomenon to be visible as far south as Devon, Hampshire, and Kent. The Met Office indicates that sightings could potentially continue during clear skies until Tuesday.
Key points
- The Northern Lights were visible across the UK, including southern English counties like Devon, Hampshire, and Kent, on Friday and Saturday nights.
- The display was triggered by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, where charged particles interacted with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.
- Geomagnetic activity levels reached 600nT on Saturday evening, enabling the aurora to be seen across the entire country.
- The Met Office states that sightings may continue during clear skies until Tuesday.
- Experts note that 2026 is a peak year for aurora-spotting due to the Sun's 11-year cycle of heightened activity.