Celestial spectacle! Dazzling Northern Lights set to illuminate UK skies tonight as solar storm strikes; see if your hometown will get a glimpse of this cosmic show

solar storm could cause the Northern Lights to appear tonight in parts of the United Kingdom. If the conditions are right, lucky skywatchers may see the aurora borealis in all its glory. Here's where and when to witness this rare natural phenomenon.

Tonight, as a 'High-Speed Stream' from a coronal hole hits Earth, parts of the United Kingdom will view the Northern Lights, commonly known as the Aurora Borealis.
According to the Met Office, the aurora is caused by a 'high-speed stream' emitted by a coronal hole, a breach in the sun's outer surface. The possibility of viewing the aurora borealis rises with approach to the sun.

Where and when to see the Northern Lights tonight?

In the UK, residents in Scotland are in the greatest position, but people as far south as Newcastle and Belfast might be able to see it with their own eyes.

You should be able to take pictures of the aurora even if you are unable to view it firsthand if your phone has a good camera.

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Brits have already taken pictures of the aurora in the early hours of Wednesday, and according to experts, it should show up once more tonight, as quoted in a report by the Daily Mail.

A Met Office official stated, «Cameras are helpful because the extended exposure lets in a lot of light and intensifies the colours more than the human eye can see.»

This explains why you occasionally see images as far south as Cornwall, even though it's improbable that you could see them with the unaided eye.
The Met Office states that northern Scotland offers the best views of the aurora, while southern Scotland and similar latitudes offer a «slight chance» of seeing it.

Even though you'll probably need to use a long exposure shot on a camera for the best viewing,