northern lights?

Question

where and when are they most visible (UK)? please dont just say up north.

Answer 1

northern hemisphere

Answer 2

The best time to see the Northern Lights

Chasing the aurora borealis is chancy business because it is so unpredictable. Scientists can foretell with a fair degree of accuracy whether there will be a display in the next few days and how spectacular it will likely be, but beyond that, the predictions get steadily more inaccurate.

The absolutely best place to see the aurora borealis is from the space station orbiting the earth, for the astronauts are able to see the northern lights as they appear from above. Most amazingly, they can also observe the auroras of other planets!

For those who aren’t fortunate enough to be astronauts however, the best way to view the northern lights is to head for the northern regions of Scandinavia or Canada, perhaps even Siberia or Greenland. The reason for this northern trek is because the aurora borealis is far more intense and frequent in the higher latitudes: in Northern Norway for example, vibrant displays can be seen on almost every clear, dark night, while in Northern Scotland, they can only be seen about once a month and around the Mediterranean, a weak display takes place only about once a decade, perhaps even once a century.

To figure out the best time to see the display, keep an eye on the sun. The aurora borealis reflects the sun's activity: it closely follows the 11-year cycle of sunspot activity and the greater the sunspot, the more vibrant the display. There is also plenty of invaluable information on the Internet, detailing where, when and how strong the aurora borealis is likely to be.

An aurora borealis display can actually take place at any moment, even during the day. Unfortunately, it is impossible to see the aurora during the day because the same sun that produces the northern lights also produces enough sunlight to overwhelm it. Darkness and clear skies are required, which can be somewhat tricky in the land of the midnight sun — during the summer, the sun really never sets but sits just above the horizon.

The best time to go north is from September to late March, when the sunlight is much weaker. For some unknown reason, the aurora borealis is usually at its most spectacular during the early spring and late autumn. Seeing the northern lights is often a matter of choosing the likeliest location and waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.

Answer 3

The trouble is, "up north" is the best answer! The further north you go, the closer you get to the Earth's north magnetic pole, and the greater your probability of seeing the northern lights. The trouble is, the north magnetic pole is in northern Canada, so you're very far away from it, so the chances of seeing the northern lights from anywhere in the UK is fairly remote, though it has happened in the last five years. The other problem is that we are currently at solar minimum, so ALL solar related activity is very much reduced, meaning the northern lights are infrequent _everywhere_. It will be a year or two before there's enough solar activity to bring them back in your location. Sorry!

Despite old wives tales, aurorae are no more common at one time of year than another, since they depend on solar activity, not on the Earth's seasons. Probably they're more often seen in winter because the nights are longer, and people are up and about when it's dark. The best and brightest auroras I've ever seen in my life have been in summer.

Answer 4

Most of the time you can't see them in the UK. However, occasionally, it something like ever 20 years, though i'm not sure, you can see them in this country, but you would have to be far from any city lights, and probably for the best view in the far north of Scotland.

Other than that I would go to the Arctic Circle, where you have a good chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis on a clear night.

Answer 5

I live in Burghead which is a small fishing village that overlooks the Moray firth in the North of Scotland. I have seen them quite a few times here. Unfortunately the best place to see the Northern Lights is far North.

Answer 6

I moved up to Ullapool in the Scottish highlands about 8 years ago in order to photograph them. I,ve seen the Northern lights about 85 times although not recently as the Sun is quiet. In a few years time as the Sun becomes active again, I could be seeing them several times a month or even in a week. Statistically, it would be best to look out around the equinoxes around Solar maximum. Look up Aurorawatch.co.uk for free real time alerts on activity.

Answer 7

by far the best place in the uk that i have seen the "northern lights" is in the Shetland Islands. In particular the two most northerly remote islands of Yell and the most northerly being Unst. Due to the extremely dark skys the views are breath taking.I have seen them from late August onwards.
In fact they are so common the locals dont even give it a second glance.

Answer 8

Up North. Like Arctic Circle north.

The UK is likely NOT far enough north to see them, unless the magnetic storm is fairly intense.

If you're in the UK and want to see the Northern Lights, then annex Iceland.

Answer 9

They are at their most intense approx once every 11 years - related to sunspot activity.

I've seen them in Edinburgh - right in the city centre and the conditions were good.

Answer 10

Generally, close to the magnetic poles, but when the sun is active, they can be seen much further south.