The Northern Lights have always fascinated me.
As a child, I’d heard about them from one of my friends who’d been on a holiday to Finland. I'd read about them in books, and I’d seen pictures of them on the internet. It felt a bit magical - ethereal lights dancing across the sky - and to me, in my relatively normal childhood, a special experience like that was something I yearned for.
Imagine my surprise when I heard that - this year, the Northern Lights were coming to England.
So, when will the Northern Lights return again?
The Northern lights are caused when charged particles released by the Sun enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules, causing a phenomenon that appears as shimmering light.
Right now, the Sun is at a particularly active point in its 11-year-cycle, producing more frequent solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
These cause geomagnetic storms (disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field) bringing the Aurora further South than usual and making it appear more frequently.
Although we cannot say exactly when the Northern Lights will return, we just have to wait for the Sun’s next major CME - which will provide us with a 2-day short notice to see the lights, but enough excitement to last a lifetime.
Take a moment.
As well as a stunning display, the Northern Lights bring with them a reminder to appreciate the beauty of nature, which cares for us in ways we don’t even realise. It serves as a reminder to take a minute, in a world full of technology, to understand the profound connection between you and the universe, the balance with which the world remains in order.
It’s nice to have something to look forward to.
Keep your eyes peeled for nature’s light show - learn about more amazing phenomena (it makes for some cool photos).
Northern Lights tracker - Aurorawatch
