Met Office issues update on chances of seeing the Northern Lights this weekend

Thousands were treated to a show of the aurora last night

The aurora lit up UK skies last night, with the lightshow being seen as far south as Buckinghamshire.

This year has seen on onslaught of solar flares and coronal mass ejections that have paraded our skies in places not often treated to the illuminating spectacle.

Notably, in May this year, the aurora could be seen across the entire UK and as far south as central Europe.

Meteorologists at Lancaster University who run AuroraWatch UK warned of a 'red alert', meaning chances of seeing the aurora last night was highly likely.

The Met Office warned that sightings of the lights were likely in the north, but last night Brits all over the country were treated to some incredible views.

It seems like people might be in for the treat once again, with the Met Office issuing an update on the likelihood.

"The chances of aurora remain initially, though gradually easing through October 11, becoming increasingly confined to far northern geomagnetic latitudes by October 13," they said, via Daily Express.

However, chances may be hampered due to cloudy weather.

"Visibility of the auroras is likely to be more confined to Scotland tonight, as the effects of the coronal mass ejection wanes.

"Cloud cover and rain will obscure visibility for some, particularly in western areas, but some visibility is possible elsewhere in Scotland.

"Chances of aurora sightings on Saturday will be increasingly confined to further north in Scotland."

One of the most incredible spectacles the natural world has to offer, the aurora borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, occur when electrically-charged particles are given off by solar storms and eventually collide with the earth’s atmosphere.

Speaking to The Guardian, Silvia Dalla, a professor of solar physics at the University of Central Lancashire, said: “To maximise your chances of viewing the aurora, the sky needs to be as clear as possible. Look northwards and try to find a place with dark skies, ideally away from a city where light pollution can interfere with the view.”

Increased solar flare activity causes coronal mass ejections (CMEs), sending out electrically charged particles from the sun which become trapped in by the Earth’s magnetic field.

Once trapped, the particles then heat up atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere by smashing into them, resulting in the bright colours we know as the Northern Lights.

The aurora are usually visible from countries closest to the Arctic, such as Canada, Iceland and Norway.

But when there is particularly large amount of solar activity, they can be visible further south than usual – such as from northern parts of the UK.

For best viewing of the aurora borealis, you'll need clear, dark skies relying on a lack of moonlight as well as minimal cloud clover.

If you're still struggling to get a clear sight of the lights, advice follows that a phone camera can help locate them as they detect the colourful display more effectively than the human eye.