Star-gazers, space-lovers, and anybody who is still bitter about the fact that they were pretty much the only person in the capital who didn’t manage to see the Northern Lights illuminating Edinburgh’s skies last year (not that I’m speaking from experience, or anything), listen up. Aurora borealis is set to, yet again, grace the skies of the UK tonight (November 12), and here’s how Edinburghers could catch a gorgeous glimpse.
Why will the Northern Lights be visible in the UK?
Well, folks – we actually have a disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field to thank for the potential phenomenon. The Sun is going through a rather active phase at the moment. It’s experiencing a number of eruptions (known as Coronal Mass Ejections) which are sending solar particles towards the Earth. It’s when these particles interact with the Earth’s atmosphere that the dazzling display of lights is created.
The Met Office said: “Three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are expected to arrive at Earth, two on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning and another on Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The aurora will be enhanced into Wednesday morning, with enhancement persisting perhaps through to Thursday morning. Visible aurora expected across parts of northern UK and similar geomagnetic latitudes, with a chance of sightings further south across England and Wales, though cloud cover is expected to inhibit ideal viewing conditions for many parts.”
When will the Northern Lights be visible?
The Northern Lights are expected to be visible from the UK all night tonight (November 12), between 12pm and 23:59 tomorrow on November 13. Whilst they’ll probably be strongest before midnight, it’s difficult to predict the exact timings due to the strong geomagnetic storm that’s been occurring. Of course, the further north of the country you are, the better chance you have of feasting your eyes on the aurora borealis. But all is not lost for us Edinburghers.
How to get the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights from Edinburgh
To maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Edinburgh, head to an unobstructed open space, with minimal light pollution (the darker, the better). Parks with panoramic views are probably your best bet, as well as beaches. This year, the lights were spotted from the likes of Arthur’s Seat, Portobello Beach and Calton Hill. Although once your eyes are adjusted, the Northern Lights could be visible to the naked eye, they often appear brighter through a camera lens.
So, grab your camera, wrap up warm, and good luck. And as always, check the weather forecast before going, as it’s expected to rain.