Northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are a natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions near the Arctic and Antarctic poles. The lights are created when charged particles emitted by the sun collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere, creating a beautiful display of colorful lights in the sky. The colors of the aurora borealis can range from green to pink to purple, and can appear in various shapes and patterns. Viewing the northern lights is considered a magical and awe-inspiring experience, and is a popular tourist attraction in countries like Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Canada. Many were lucky enough to catch a glimpse on the evening of 10th May 2024 over Dorking and surrounding areas. Many people gathered in high up areas including Box hill, Leith hill and Epsom Downs on the next night to try and see this magnificent sight. Unfortunately they didn’t appear as prominent as the night before and ques of traffic was the main focus!
When can you next see the Northern Lights in the UK?
Ideally, the lights will be best viewed away from any light pollution, in remote areas, facing the northern horizon - north facing coasts produce some of the best viewing locations. The northern lights are most active during the Equinox and Solstice in March/April and September/October. Will we see them again in Surrey ? We sure hope so.
Images courtesy of Tim Loder