Stargazers in Scotland enjoyed a spectacular show last night as the awe-inspiring Northern Lights twinkled in the night sky. And it seems Scots should buckle up for round two tonight, as the light show comes back for more.
While the Aurora Borealis is usually a treat reserved for locations like Iceland, Norway, and Finland, the Met Office issued an alert on Tuesday indicating that it could grace parts of northern and western Scotland this week.
Social media was flooded with photos of swirls of pink, purple, and green when the light show peaked in parts of Scotland at around 9pm on Tuesday.
For those who missed it, the Met Office has shared a map showing where has the best chance for the rest of the week, stretching from Scotland down to the north of England and on to the Midlands.
Those not covered by clouds have a 90 per cent chance of seeing the rare phenomenon.
The weather experts noted: “Northern regions have further chances to see the aurora over the next few nights. Cloudy skies mean limited viewing opportunities for most of us, but with clearer skies in northern and western Scotland, there’s a much better chance here”.
The anticipated display over the north of Scotland is attributed to “ongoing fast solar winds” affecting the northern hemisphere. Any “glancing coronal mass ejections” (CMEs) — significant discharges of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s corona — may amplify the likelihood of observing the aurora, according to the Met Office.
These natural events happen when charged particles from the sun smash into atmospheric gases near Earth’s magnetic poles, emitting light at various wavelengths and thus painting the sky with a mesmerising array of colours.
Remote spots with clear views of the northern horizon are prime locations for catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights, which are unlikely to be seen until the skies darken considerably.
The Met Office has predicted moderate solar activity in the coming four days, raising the chances of an impressive light show. Before Tuesday, Scotland last witnessed the thrilling display on New Year’s Day 2025.