Northern lights dazzle over UK, Europe, skywatchers say, ‘Get a load of this aurora borealis’
AFP, the event, sparked by a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun – began around 1600 GMT, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center. This phenomenon captivated skywatchers and posed potential risks to satellite systems and power grids, with concerns about disruptions lingering into the weekend.
As reported by the Guardian, Kathleen Cunnea, residing in Great Horkesley, Essex, expressed her awe, stating, “It was absolutely stunning to see." According to Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon, there was a high probability of witnessing the Northern Lights. He mentioned, “Although the shorter nights will limit the visibility window, there’s a good chance to see the aurora, particularly on Friday night and especially in Scotland, Ireland, and parts of northern England and Wales." Mathew Owens, a professor of space physics at the University of Reading, told AFP that while the effects would be largely felt over the planet's northern and southern latitudes, how far they would extend would depend on the storm's final strength.
"Go outside tonight and look would be my advice because if you see the aurora, it's quite a spectacular thing," he added. If people have eclipse glasses, they can also look for the sunspot cluster during the day.
Furthermore, species like pigeons, equipped with internal biological compasses, may also experience disruption. Observations from pigeon handlers have indicated a decrease in the return of birds during geomagnetic storms, as reported by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, AFP reported.
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