Northern Lights: More of beautiful spectacles expected soon

The Northern Lights recently put on a spectacular show for residents in the US and UK. However, not everyone was fortunate enough to witness this celestial spectacle.

The Northern Lights are also known as the Aurora Borealis. The beautiful sight recently graced the skies of the Midwestern US and parts of Europe. 

If you missed out, experts have some encouraging news for you. They say that the Northern Lights are expected to light up the skies once again.

Dr Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, shared with Mail Online that the sun is currently in a phase of heightened activity. This period, known as solar maximum, occurs every 11 years. The event is characterised by solar flares and charged particles erupting from the sun's surface. These particles travel millions of miles to Earth.

The vivid colours come into view after the Earth's magnetic field interact with charged particles coming from the surface of the sun. Predicting the Northern Lights is a complex task, but scientists anticipate another display this week or early next week.

"There are signs of another storm approaching within the next few days, which might boost the aurorae again. While we remain at the sun’s peak, the chance of a solar storm remains quite high," said Dr. Brown.

Last Saturday, a powerful G4 solar storm hit Earth, causing disruptions in satellite communications, GPS, and power grids. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, revealed that his Starlink satellites came under significant pressure due to the storm. 

"While photographing the Northern Lights is rewarding, take time to immerse yourself in the experience without any gadgets," officials previously shared. "Sometimes, fond memories are the best capture."

So, keep your eyes on the skies, as the Northern Lights may soon return to dazzle us once more.