The Northern Lights are set to return on Monday night
Many places saw them over the weekend
Last updated 16th Sep 2024
Earlier this year, the whole of the UK was treated to an amazing display of the Aurora Borealis, known to many as the Northern Lights.
From the north of Scotland to the south of England, and even across France, many had the chance to see the sky light up with beautiful colours of green, pink and purple, as the Earth's atmosphere was bombarded by particles from the Sun.
When will the Northern Lights be visible next in the UK?
According to the Met Office, it looks like some people could be in for a treat tonight (Monday 16th September). Sharing the exciting news on X, the Met Office wrote: 'Did you manage to catch a glimpse of the #AuroraBorealis over the weekend? ✨
'If not, there is still a chance of seeing them tonight underneath the clear skies, especially towards the north 🌙'.
What causes the Northern Lights?
Aurora is caused by particles from the Sun hitting the Earth's atmosphere, which in turn causes the amazing colours we see in the sky.
Take a look through our tips for viewing shooting stars and the aurora:
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Leo) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Perseids come from Perseus, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.
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