Northern Lights in Britain tonight

[dogstarheaven]

Can someone confirm whether this will be for the whole country or whether it's in certain parts pls. Storm to bring Northern Lights to Britain - Yahoo! News UK

thanks

[Jim Ford]

Subscribe to 'Aurora Watch' at Lancs. University. They provide email alerts.

http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/

The site has aurora images, including ones from Folkstone - you can't get much further South than that!

Jim

[Richard G.]

Good forecast info available at the Geofizz Institute.
Aurora Forecast
Which seems to suggest we're unlikely to get much of a view of current activity, unless you're in the very far north of Scotland.

Space Weather Prediction Center is also useful. There's certainly activity right now, so it's worth keeping an eye on things, but I wouldn't expect to see anything in England over the next couple of days.

If you're interested in Aurora generally, have a read at the following page, which explains the 11-year cycle and the fact that activity is now on the increase with a peak predicted for 2013-14, so there should be more and better opportunities than this one over the next few years.
Predicting the Aurora

[wildherbalian85]

Something i posted earlier on another site.

If this storm is the most powefull for 4 years (as suggested) then you would, weather permitting, stand a very good chance of seeing it as far south as leeds - maybe even further south then that.

Only a few nights ago the aurora was Kp5 pushing briefly towards Kp6. At Kp5 it would have been visable overhead in Shetland and Orkney. At Kp6 visable overhead even further south - Northern highlands, Wick & Aberdeen.

At Kp5 low on the horrizon as far south as Edinburgh and Belfast.

At Kp6 low on the horrizon as far south as Manchester and Dublin.

At Kp7 the aurora could be viewed anywhere in the UK but overhead from Northern England Northwards.

This here is a visual guide

http://www.gedds.alaska....orecast/Interpreting.htm
Use this site to get a good idea of the real time forcast

Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO)
Note: on the left hand side click the "Aurora Forcast"

And finally if you find its too cloudy across the UK then there is this site i have found to be excellent at viewing the lights when they happen....

Live Camera - Aurora Skystation

[tufftie]

I've seen them in Orkney in the 80's and on the Llanberis Pass March 1991, though they were rather red then but worth viewing. Hoping the sky will be clear as should just be able to see them from here

There are some great time lapse vids of auroras on You Tube

[bopa shot]

I receved this email from aurora watch uk today I hope it helps. I live in South Wales and am hoping to see them. Fingers crossed

As you may have seen in the news, recent solar activity means that inthe next few days we have the best chance of seeing the aurora forseveral years. If activity is detected we'll send another email. You can also follow us on twitter: @aurorawatchuk.

[wizzo]

Sounds fantastic. Is this a rare event in Britain? Wizzo

[John D]

Originally Posted by wizzo

Sounds fantastic. Is this a rare event in Britain? Wizzo

Not uncommon in the North of Scotland, the further North the better ie Orkney's and Shetland's

John D


Zenfolio | John's Wild World

[Farplace]

Did anyone actually see these Northern lights? We had thick cloud cover.

[davecatt]

The activity was too weak last night so no chance of a sighting in the uk.

If you follow the link below and view the European map you will get the activity forecast up to Thursday this week. Note the line of numbers in bold at the top of the report this gives the activity strength measure (Kp) you need 7,8or 9 to be highlighted to be able to see the aurora from all parts of the uk the UK. Kp=8 or 9 the we will have over head activity for most of the country.

The Geophysical Institute Auroral Forecast Page

Dave