The Northern Lights are set to visible across Britain once again tonight as a geomagnetic storm continues to rage on.
Millions of people across the country have a good chance of catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis in the early hours of Wednesday, and then again through Wednesday night.
Although the Met Office’s Space Weather forecast has said those in the northern half of the UK have the best chance of seeing the lights, it could also be possible for those in the south if skies are clear.
The increased possibility is due to the Sun experiencing an active phase with a number of eruptions, known as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
These CMEs send solar particles to the Earth, and when they hit the Earth’s atmosphere, light displays are created across the skies.
CMEs, alongside solar flares, cause a disturbance in the planet’s magnetic field known as geomagnetic storms.
It is understood that there are currently three CMEs headed from the Sun towards Earth.
According to the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the organisation which measures the strength of such storms, a Strong G3 or even Severe G4 geomagnetic storm could be triggered on Wednesday evening.
The Northern Lights are set to visible across Britain
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PA
These storms, which can last for hours, are not harmful for humans as the Earth’s atmosphere provides protection from the high levels of radiation.
However, these storms can cause problems for both people and objects in space.
Astronauts caught outside during a CME can suffer from immediate radiation poisoning, and satellites and electronic devices such as phones can be disrupted.
As a result, power grids and satellite navigation could also be affected.
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Millions of people in the UK have a chance of catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis in the early hours of Wednesday
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MET OFFICE
From Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, Britons witnessed the Northern Lights across the nation, especially in Scotland and the North.
Residents in Lanarkshire, Lancashire and Newcastle posted photos of the Aurora Borealis lighting up the skies outside their homes.
For those wishing to see the lights on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, a clear sky is needed.
The best way to increase your chances is to find an elevated spot which is far away from light pollution.
For those wishing to see the lights on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, a clear sky is needed
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PA
Although the storm will continue through the night, AuroraWatch UK said the lights are most likely to be seen between 10pm and midnight.
The Met Office said: “The aurora will be enhanced into Wednesday morning with enhancement persisting perhaps through to Thursday morning.
“Visible aurora expected across parts of northern UK and similar geomagnetic latitudes, with a chance of sightings further south across England and Wales, though cloud cover is expected to inhibit ideal viewing conditions for many parts.”
