Northern Lights could be seen across Merseyside tonight

The Northern Lights over Crosby Beach earlier this year
-Credit: (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)


There may be a chance to see the Northern Lights tonight, according to the Met Office. The weather phenomenon, also known as aurora borealis, are most likely to be visible in areas of clear sky.

Parts of northern England have the best chance of seeing the lights, though there may also be a “chance of sightings further south”, the Met Office added in a post on X. For those hoping to spot the aurora, meteorologists have advised staying away from areas with light pollution and using a long exposure camera as they are better able to adapt to different wavelengths than the naked eye.

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The Met Office said: “Aurora sightings are likely across Scotland and Northern Ireland, perhaps across northern England. There is a slight chance of sightings across parts of the Midlands or the south of England where skies are clear.”

Stargazers may be able to see the lights as early as 10pm, although the Met Office says there is "some uncertainty" around its arrival time. Remote, open areas with views of the northern horizon are best for sightings, with the lights unlikely to be visible until it gets very dark.

Stargazers may be able to see the lights as early as 10pm
Stargazers may be able to see the lights as early as 10pm -Credit:Met Office

Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles. As they collide, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.

In the northern hemisphere, most of this activity takes place within a band known as the aurora oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees. When activity is strong, this expands to cover a greater area, which explains why displays can be occasionally seen as far south as the UK.