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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Lottie Gibbons

Northern lights may be visible in UK tonight after strong solar flare

Aurora-watchers could be rewarded with another chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

The natural phenomenon was visible to the naked eye on both Wednesday and Thursday night, due to a particularly strong solar flare, known as a coronal mass ejection.

Photographers across Sefton, West Lancashire and Wirral all managed to capture the stunning aurora borealis.

READ MORE: Northern Lights activity above Wirral and Merseyside

And a Met Office space weather expert said there could be more Northern Lights shows.

They said: "CME effects are expected to subside, but persist into the 5th [November 5].

"Aurora may be visible across Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and perhaps parts of the Midlands, Norfolk and North Wales with the naked-eye at first where skies are clear."

Julie Winn, a volunteer at the Kielder Observatory, explained the Aurora Borealis phenomenon was particularly strong as a large solar flare, known as a Coronal Mass Ejection, was detected last week bursting from the sun.

Particles from the flare interact with the Earth's magnetic field, causing them to energise and create photons of light.

If you're watching the skies between 7pm tonight and 2am tomorrow, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking solar light show.

Like any form of stargazing or astronomy, the best way to enjoy it is far away from any light pollution. You're also advised to travel as far north as possible to be in with the best chance of seeing them.

The Met Office has said more space weather events were expected over the coming years to around 2025 as the sun goes through its cycle of activity.

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