Northern Lights seen across UK, with more sightings possible

The Northern Lights were seen across parts of the UK on Saturday, with the Met Office saying further sightings could be possible during clear skies until Tuesday. The aurora borealis was reported from Scotland and the West Midlands to southern counties including Devon, Hampshire and Kent. The displays are more commonly visible near the Arctic Circle and in northern Scotland, but solar activity can make them visible farther south. The Met Office said sightings could remain possible through Tuesday when skies are clear. That forecast is an opportunity, not a guarantee: visibility depends on auroral activity and local weather, including cloud cover. Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said the display might be weaker on Sunday and most likely to be seen in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. He said it could strengthen again on Monday and reach further south into central areas. Long-exposure photographs might capture the lights farther south than they could be seen with the naked eye, he said. The sightings followed activity from the Sun. Charged particles carried toward Earth interact with its magnetic field and gases in the upper atmosphere, releasing energy as light.