In Northern Ireland the aurora is best viewed from the Antrim coastline, which enjoys a clear view of the northern horizon over the Malin Sea. Iceland. Find out the best times and places to see the spectacular phenomenon. A Gannett Company. Picture: Pixabay Picture: Pixabay The Northern Lights could be 'even more visible' across parts of the UK this winter - and experts at NASA have explained why. Where to see the northern lights in the UK, Lewis, Harris and the most northerly tip of Skye, Calton Hill or Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. The Northern Lights are also known by … The Northern Lights, which usually appear over the North Pole, will be visible from the UK tonight. Solar cycle and Northern Lights: Is 2020 a good year to see Northern Lights? See our article comments House Rules here, Shetland, Orkney and Caithness, such as Noss Head and Wick, Aberdeenshire and the Moray Coast, head for Nairn, Portknockie and Cairn o’ Mount, Lewis, Harris and the most northerly tip of Skye, The far north west of Scotland, for example, Applecross, Lochinver and north of Ullapool, Galloway Forest Park – the only dark sky park in Scotland, Angus and the coast of Fife, including St Andrews and Kinghorn, The Lake District, including Derwentwater near Keswick, Northumberland has some of the darkest skies in England so is a good place to visit for northern lights hunters, Southernmost parts of the Cornish coastline. For that you get return flights to Iceland and three nights B&B at the four-star Grandi or Midgardur hotel in Reykjavik (one of the coolest cities in the world IMO). But from 2020 onwards, there will be a slow ramp-up in solar activity, and auroras should increase in frequency, peaking in 2024/2025 with the Solar Maximum. Aurora may be visible by eye from Scotland and may be visible by camera from Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland. (0800 298 9700; vikingcruises.co.uk) Become an expert photographer. Seeing the northern lights is on many people’s bucket list. The northern lights have long captured the awe and imagination of explorers, and today are being sought out more and more by the everyday traveller. All About the Northern Lights in 2020. Find out the best times and places to see the spectacular phenomenon. "For us, the solar cycle means the difference between being able to catch the aurora once or twice a month during solar maximum, or seeing it only a few times a year during solar minimum (and knowing that we have a few years to wait until we're regularly staying up well past our bedtimes again).". Award-winning. Northern Lights cruises from the UK often call at the Art Nouveau town of Alesund, former Norwegian capital of Trondheim, overlooked by a striking 14th-century cathedral, and the tranquil Lofoten Islands, dotted with traditional fishing villages. Northern Lights over Harriniva, Finnish Lapland. Jeff Parsons Friday 11 Dec 2020 5:00 pm The Northern Lights occur when charged solar particles of the sun strike atoms and molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere (Getty Images) The Northern Lights … The northern lights have long captured the awe and imagination of explorers, and today are being sought out more and more by the everyday traveller. Madison Dapcevich Published 10 December 2020 Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Up Norway – tailored journeys. 70% of Scotland is remote rural land, making a number of areas highly suitable for spotting auroras. As these reactions occur at the magnetic poles this is why auroras are most likely to be seen in Scotland and the northernmost parts of the UK. There is also the Arctic capital of Tromso, renowned for its cathedral, and Alta where you can experience traditional Sami culture. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here. At TUI we ‘cross the ‘T’s, dot the ‘I’s, and put ‘U’ in the middle’. Northern Lights UK 2020: Where you can see them now? Sign up to be kept informed about our conservation work and how you can help such as fundraising, campaigning and events. We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads. The Aurora Zone: Time-lapse shows stunning Northern Lights… Northern Lights 2020: These are the best places to see them from the UK. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. NOR-WAY Bussekspress – travel green with express busses. Select Your Cookie Preferences. Red: Red alert: aurora likely: It is likely that … The website monitors current levels of geomagnetic activity, while their Twitter page also releases alerts for possible aurora sightings in the UK. After an active aurora night, mark that … The aurora borealis, or aurora, are a natural electrical phenomenon characterised by the appearance of streams of red or green lights in the sky, especially near the northern or southern magnetic pole. The quays along the seafront host a variety of shops, live music clubs and cafés. ©Copyright 2001-2021. Download the App Now! Vy – it should be easy to travel green. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. 0 Link copied. During a weak aurora, the colours are very faint and spread out whereas an intense aurora features greater numbers of and brighter colours which can be … Fair and sustainable work ethos. Philip McErlean – Groomsport, Northern Ireland. The northern lights (also known as aurora borealis) appear as large areas of colour including pale green, pink, shades of red, yellow, blue and violet in the direction due north. This is known as the solar cycle and is measured by the number of sunspots visible on the sun. You can unsubscribe at any time. Low deposits ATOL protected No Credit Card Charges . Northern lights photographer Rayann Elzein is hosting a five-day workshop from Jan. 5-12, 2020 in Utsjoki, Finland. With many regional airports now flying to Northern Lights holiday destinations, you don’t need to go cross-country to leave the UK. The autumn equinox, which always happens in September, is considered to be a good time to witness the phenomenon due to geomagnetic and solar activity. Where to see the northern lights in the UK and Ireland. 12 day Northern Europe in 2020. AuroraWatch UK is a free service offering alerts of when the aurora might be visible from the UK. … Out of the three countries, a Northern Lights Iceland trip is the very best for regional options both in terms of airports and frequency of service. The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. But during high activity, auroras are often visible from much lower latitudes, often including Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia and more. The isolation of the Highlands and remote Isles from sources of light pollution makes them ideal (and stunning) locations from which to view auroras, which are seen almost regularly from some spots. As the Earth … Calling all the star gazers and astronomers across the UK, we have some news that is truly out of this world. Get involved with the news in your community, This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. Photographs of aurora are likely from anywhere in the UK. An occurrence can last anything from a few minutes to a matter of hours, and the ships decision as to whether the Northern light occurred is final. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate. This table allows you to see what Kp level is typically required see aurora borealis where you are in the event of high geomagnetic activity. Latest News July 21, 2020. The northern lights are only visible when it's dark, so the start of the watch on December 10 isn't much use to the casual aurora hunter. The airline is offering a three-night Northern Lights Winter Special to the Icelandic capital from just £275 per person. The aurora borealis is formed by solar plasma and winds, creating a uniquely shifting light show illuminating the sky. The Northern Lights, which usually appear over the North Pole, will be visible from the UK tonight. Auroras are typically green due to collisions with oxygen particles, but ‘exciting’ different atmospheric gases can produce a blue, violet, yellow, or even red colour. In fact, when you should go is not actually dictated by when the lights are most active, but instead by when the skies are at their clearest. Aurora may be visible by eye from Scotland and may be visible by camera from Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland. Share this page. Throughout the flight, our astronomers will also give expert commentary on the many wonders you will see, from the Milky Way to Orion’s Belt. 100% ATOL and ABTA protection. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Cruise through the dramatic landscapes of the fjords and the far north, stepping ashore to explore remote towns by day and then returning to the ship to gaze skywards in search of the magical illuminations by night. Book a holiday to Iceland and discover why it’s known as the land of fire and ice. On average, the sun revolves on its axis once every 27-28 days as seen from earth. Latest News August 28, 2020. The most suitable period to look for the stunning northern lights in the UK is from late September to March. Hurtigruten – "The World’s Most Beautiful Sea Voyage" Authentic Scandinavia – exciting Norway tours. Northern Lights is nominated for the ONS Innovation Awards! 1. PUBLISHED: 04:01, Sun, Nov 1, 2020 | UPDATED: 08:50, Sun, Nov 1, 2020. Please Contact us … Here's everything you need to know - including the best spots to see them across the country. Northern Lights 2020: These are the best places to see them from the UK. Though most Northern Lights hunters head to Europe to catch the majestic lights, Alaska is also an ideal and less conventional destination. If you … This is more for those who want to travel somewhere exotic and new. For these reasons the lights are most visible in the countryside in the autumn and winter seasons. Where is the best place to see the northern lights? Also included is a 3.5 hour … The most likely places to see the spectacle are the Scottish Highlands and Scottish Isles. Published: 11 May 2020; Author: Ronan Gay; Northern Lights Winter; When now Aurora, daughter of the dawn, With rosy lustre purpled o’er the lawn. Northern Lights: Britons could spot aurora borealis this October from UK - here's where THE NORTHERN Lights begin to make an appearance again in the … To know when the lights might be coming to you Lancaster University’s Aurora Watch is a very useful resource. Find out about how and why the northern lights form, and where to see them in the UK. The places in the UK where you may see the northern lights are: According to Visit Scotland, these are the best places to visit for a glimpse of the Aurora. DFDS – Europe’s leading ferry operator 2012-2020. Historical View of the sun spotsFor 400 years, from the time of Galileo until now, we have been keeping track of the number of these sunspots and, a… This incredible occurrence can be occasionally seen in the night sky over Britain. Rent-A-Wreck – the smart car rental alternative. The calm, still lake waters are also perfect for photography purposes. NASA have said that the solar minimum that marks the end of the previous cycle could have happened back in December 2019, but the variability of the sun means that knowing for sure can take months. Balmoral offers dedicated Northern Lights cruises that sail to … Do you care about our brilliant planet? The closer to the North Pole that you are the more likely you will be to spot the northern lights, but if you live further south and don’t want to travel there may be opportunities to experience the magical sight much closer to home. Further east Northumberland county is home to the darkest skies in England, so even if you don’t spot the lights you’ll still be likely to see the Milky Way and even the Andromeda galaxy on a clear night.