On Monday night, residents across Cornwall and Somerset were treated to a stunning celestial display as the Northern Lights made a rare appearance over the South West of England. The Met Office had initially forecasted the aurora borealis to be visible across northern Britain but surprised many by confirming sightings as far south as Devon and Somerset.
At approximately 9:30pm, lucky stargazers caught sight of the shimmering waves of green, pink, red, and violet dancing across the night sky—an awe-inspiring phenomenon usually reserved for regions closer to the Arctic Circle.
The Met Office took to social media platform X to encourage viewers, stating, “If you have clear skies currently outside, you may also be able to see the northern lights.” They added that while the exact timing was uncertain, aurora sightings were possible in both northern and southern parts of Britain, dependent on cloud cover.
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This spectacular light show coincided with similar observations across Canada and much of the northern United States, highlighting a period of heightened solar activity. The Northern Lights occur due to interactions between the solar wind—a stream of charged particles from the Sun—and Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.
When these charged particles travel at speeds of up to one million miles per hour and encounter Earth’s magnetic field, they are directed towards the poles. Here, they collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere, causing these molecules to emit vivid colors that illuminate the night.
The colors displayed depend on the type of gas and the altitude of the interaction. Optimal viewing conditions include dark, clear skies away from artificial light pollution.
The Met Office emphasized the uniqueness of witnessing such a spectacle at home, remarking, “With the right combination of solar activity, geomagnetic conditions, and clear skies, the Northern Lights can offer a breathtaking experience right here at home.”
They also noted that the aurora borealis might be visible again on Tuesday night, offering more opportunities for residents in the South West to catch this rare and mesmerizing natural phenomenon.