The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, is a natural light display predominantly seen in high-latitude regions near the Arctic. While the UK is not typically known for frequent auroras, they can occasionally be observed, particularly in northern parts which is fortunate as that is where I live.

The phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions excite the atoms, causing them to emit light. The colours seen in the aurora—typically greens, pinks, reds, and purples—depend on the type of gas involved and its altitude.

While there’s no specific season for auroras, they are more likely to be seen during winter months when nights are longer. Keeping an eye on space weather forecasts can help determine the likelihood of auroras appearing.

If you’re lucky, a night spent under the right conditions might reward you with this spectacular display!

On the night of 10th October we were given a fantastic display. The video below is a timelapse of the evening with a number of 60second images stitched together.