Met Office confirms Northern Lights to return to Scotland tonight - how to catch a glimpse
The Northern Lights are a fabled phenomenon that many astronomy enthusiasts travel far and wide to see. Scotland is one of select countries including Norway, Finland, and Iceland that boasts sightings of the celestial spectacle.
Scots from Airdrie to Aviemore have spotted the Aurora Borealis since the beginning of the year. And those who have not yet caught sight of the jaw-dropping glow could still be in with a chance tonight, Wednesday, March 5.
According to Space.com, a coronal mass ejection (CME) from a powerful solar blast on March 1 is set to hit Earth in the coming days, but most likely on March 5. That CME could potentially causes a geomagnetic storm and therefore spur sightings of the northern lights.
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On the possibility of the massive solar blast illuminate Scots skies this evening, The Met Office also confirmed this, saying: "There is a continuing chance of enhanced geomagnetic activity for the next 12 to 18 hours during Wednesday with potential for aurora sightings across northern Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes."
Going further, the weather office confirmed that "moderate levels" of solar activity are expected over the next four days, but Wednesday remains the optimum time to see the Northern Lights in all their glory.
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with atmospheric gases near Earth's magnetic poles, emitting light at various wavelengths and painting the sky with a range of colours.
In others words, the stunning colours in the sky is the result of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which occur when solar particles enter earth's atmosphere.
These ejections, typically composed of nitrogen and other gases, emit the vibrant and luminous lights known as the aurora borealis when they burn up in the atmosphere.
Due to heightened solar activity, the lights have been appearing more frequently in parts of Scotland where they are not usually seen. This period of increased activity is expected to continue for the next 12 months.
March may be the best month to spot this cosmic phenomenon because the sun will be close to "solar maximum", which is the peak of its 11-year solar cycle.
The Lights are also to bless our skies after sunset a few weeks either side of March 20. On that date, the vernal equinox puts the Earth's axis perpendicular to the solar wind, which is known to cause an increase in aurora activity.
The Met Office suggests the incoming Lights will be able to spot with the naked eye, but they are best seen after sundown, so check your local sunset and sunrise times for exact timings.
The best sightings are when the skies are darkest, which is normally around midnight. Conditions in the sky need to be as clear and cloud-free as possible.
The best places in Scotland to catch the rare occurrence are areas of the Highlands and Islands and the North West of the country, or anywhere away from light pollution.
City-slickers should not fear, though. While the Aurora is more frequently spotted in Orkney and Shetland, the best dark sky stargazing spots in and around Glasgow to ensure you'll catch the twinkling lights have been revealed.
