There is a chance the Northern Lights could be visible on New Year’s Eve. According to the Met Office, the lights, also known as aurora borealis, are most likely to be visible in areas of clear sky in Scotland, the north of England, and Northern Ireland.
A spokesperson said tomorrow night (Tuesday) is expected to be cloudy across much of the UK, though there could be some clear spells in the east of Scotland, northeast England and Northern Ireland from around 6pm to 9pm.
The Met Office said: “A coronal mass ejection (CME) which left the Sun early on 29 December, is expected to arrive on New Year’s Eve. But, although the Northern Lights may be in place, visibility could hamper any sightings. These will likely be transient though, with cloud and rain around for many, especially in Northern and Western Scotland.”
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Skygazers across the UK and Ireland have been treated to stunning displays of the Northern Lights this year. The sun has now entered its period of greatest activity, which means Britons could be seeing more colourful displays of the aurora borealis until the middle of next year.
Our home star typically follows an 11-year-cycle, with periods of intense activity followed by a quiet phase. During its active bursts, also known as solar maximum, the sun releases charged particles that travel through space at speeds of around one million miles per hour.
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, on display in the skies above The Kissing Trees near Kinghorn in Fife. (Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Some of the particles are captured by the Earth’s magnetic field and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules in the atmosphere.
These atoms and molecules then shed the energy they gained from the collision, emitting light at various wavelengths to create colourful displays in the night sky.
According to Nasa, oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light – which is the most familiar colour of the aurora – or a red light, while nitrogen generally gives off a blue light.
The oxygen and nitrogen molecules also emit ultraviolet light, which can only be detected by special cameras on satellites.
Photos of the dazzling natural phenomenon were captured across England, Scotland and Ireland most recently in October, when they could be seen as far south as Kent and East Anglia.
The current peak is expected to last until mid-2025, according to the Royal Astronomical Society. After that, aurora displays will only be visible in high latitude countries such as Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Scandinavia, Finland and Russia.