Pink and Green Northern Lights Dazzle UK Skies as Solar Storm Sparks Rare Display

The Northern Lights lit up the UK on Monday night, painting the skies in vivid shades of green, pink and yellow as a powerful geomagnetic storm sent a wave of charged particles crashing into Earth’s atmosphere.

Although the Aurora Borealis is usually confined to the Arctic Circle, the recent surge in solar activity allowed the phenomenon to be seen across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England. Viewers in southern England captured dramatic scenes of the lights shimmering over towns and countryside.

The display was caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a massive burst of solar material — which released charged particles that collided with atmospheric gases. The collisions produce the colours associated with auroras: oxygen creates green light, while nitrogen can glow red, blue or pink.

Why the UK Saw the Lights

The UK’s rare aurora sighting coincides with a period of heightened solar activity known as a solar maximum, part of the sun’s 21-year cycle. During this phase, the sun develops more sunspots and releases more CMEs and solar flares, increasing the chances of auroras appearing at lower latitudes.

Meteorologists said the aurora was visible as far south as northern Italy, southern Spain and the French Riviera, a sign of the storm’s intensity.

What to Expect Next

The signal for Tuesday night is expected to be weaker, meaning the aurora is unlikely to be visible as far south. Cloud cover is also predicted to increase across much of the UK.

However, forecasters say there could still be clear skies in northern and eastern Scotland, with a chance of sightings in Northern Ireland early in the night.

The best way to view the aurora is under clear, dark skies. Observers are advised to look north for a faint glow and to use a camera or phone lens if the colours are difficult to spot with the naked eye.

While geomagnetic storms and solar flares are harmless to humans thanks to Earth’s protective atmosphere, they can disrupt technology and communications.

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The Northern Lights turned the UK sky into a spectacular pink and green light show on Monday night. The rare display, visible across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England, was driven by a powerful solar storm.
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