UK stargazers hoping to see the Perseids meteor shower last night were treated to an extra show when the northern lights appeared.
The Perseids meteor shower, which NASA describes as the “best meteor shower of the year”, peaked overnight on Monday.
That meant stargazers could expect to see up to 100 meteors an hour, as Earth passed through the most concentrated area of the debris trail that makes these meteors.
The aurora borealis appear over Bamburgh Lighthouse in Northumberland on Sunday night. Pic: PA
For the best stargazing experience, you usually want clear, pitch-black skies – but the appearance of the aurora borealis made for mesmerising photographs.
One hiker who spotted the display from his tent in Scaladale in Scotland called it “absolutely magical” in a post on X.
The sun is in the most active period of its 11-year cycle, which means we’re seeing the northern lights in the UK more often than usual.
In May, they produced incredible displays for skygazers around the UK, as skies turned pink and green.
The lights appear in the sky when electrically charged particles from the sun travel across space and collide with Earth’s atmosphere.
The closer you are to the North Pole, the more you can expect to see the northern lights, but occassionally, they make their way further south.
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The Perseid and the northern lights over Harrogate in Yorkshire. Pic: Andrew Hawkes/@namboozle/PA
Last night, as the Perseid meteors raced across the sky, people as far south as Cornwall watched them alongside the aurora.
“Popped down to #Polzeath last night to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower, ended up staying till gone 1am watching the northern lights! Stunningly clear sky and a great show!” posted Tom Kempster on X.
The northern lights during the Perseid meteor shower in Germany on Monday night. Pic: AP
The display was seen all over the world, with amazing pictures taken in places including Germany and Russia.
The Perseids meteor shower combines with the northern lights over Moscow on Monday night. Pic: AP
Will the northern lights appear tonight in the UK?
According to the Met Office, the plasma ejection from the sun that is causing the northern lights to appear so far south will “wane slowly through Tuesday 13 August”.
That said, there is “a chance of visible aurora to Scotland and parts of northern England overnight”.
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By tomorrow, “activity should return back to background levels, with significant enhancements currently unlikely and any visible aurora restricted to far northern Scotland”.
