Topic: Northern Lights illuminate the UK

[Simon]

The Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, gives spectacular displays over parts of the UK, lighting up skies from the north of Scotland to Essex and south Wales.

Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26378027

[Clive]

More by luck than judgement, I wrote an article that was published in the local free magazine this week telling readers they might see the northern lights from our area this month.  They probably think I must have a hotline to God!   

[Simon]

 

But did you see them?

[Clive]

Too much light pollution here.   

[Simon]

Shame.  Same here, but I didn't know to look anyway. 

[Clive]

Look towards north because the northern lights emanate from the north pole.  That's not to say that you can't see them if you look towards the south or west but north near midnight is usually best. 

[Simon]

Thanks.  I think I've probably missed them now, this time around. 

[Clive]

I get alerts by e-mail but the problem is for every 100 alerts only one ever comes to anything.  The alerts are based on fragments of the Sun breaking off and heading towards Earth but most of the time they just don't make it or they miss our planet.