The Northern Lights, one of the most beautiful natural phenomena, are less likely to be seen than ever before.
Also known as the Aurora Borealis, they are on an 11-year solar cycle which means that they will soon enter the ‘Solar Minimum’, and won’t be easily seen for the next few years.
Thankfully, they are sometimes visible in the UK for Britons who want to try and spot them.
But how and where will they be seen?
A huge solar flare meant they were visible in the UK last week.
It is the first time since November 2017 that Britons have had the chance to spot it.
The NOAA NWS Space Weather Prediction Center predicted a large coronal mass ejection (CME).
This is when a release of plasma and magnetic field that usually precede the northern lights, will happen in the Earths atmosphere tonight.
Whilst it is hard to know where in the UK is the best to spot them, the ideal time will be between 9pm and 6am when it is darkest.
AuroraWatch UK tweeted: “After a recent solar flare, an Earthward directed CME has been launched.
“@NWSSWPC are predicting arrival around 15th Feb. UK #aurora sightings may be possible if timing and conditions are favourable.”
Being away from any areas that are heavy with light pollution will also help, and areas in Northern Ireland and Scotland have the most chance of seeing them.
BBC News forecaster Matt Taylor explained how it works in a hilarious take on the Northern Lights.
He explained: “The Sun of course is not a solid object. Fluctuations and all that, we get sort of flares off.
“That sends highly charged particles right to the atmosphere towards us and as it reaches our atmosphere it interacts with oxygen and nitrogen molecules and that’s what causes the colour.
“The Sun gives all of those molecules a little bit of a tickle and they shine different colours of light.”
