Showing posts with label Shining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shining. Show all posts

Friday, January 10, 2014

Northern Lights Pictured Shining On UK


Stunning images of the Northern Lights have been snapped in Wales – and there will be another chance to see the spectacle.


Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales Kim Price captured this scene over the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey

Kim Price took the photos near her home in Llangollen, Denbighshire, on Thursday night when she headed out to view the aurora borealis – which are normally only visible in the Arctic.


The wedding photographer told Sky News she saw faint green lights above Valle Crucis Abbey – but had no idea what she had captured until she got home and downloaded them on to her computer.


“I was so delighted when I saw them, I had no idea how lucky I’d been. I’m absolutely amazed,” she said.


“It was quite spooky up there near the abbey, but it was a very clear night with no air pollution and I thought there might be a good chance of seeing the northern lights.”


Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales The aurora borealis are normally only seen in the Arctic

Ms Price, 48, added: “I could see streaks in the sky, but the colours were very faint, and I was using long exposure which I’d never really tried before.


“Things that you can’t see with the naked eye pick up loads of detail because it takes 30 seconds to take, so I had no idea how amazing the photos were until I got home to the computer screen.”


Scientists say the natural light display came as far south as the M4 corridor on Thursday night.


Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales Kim Price took the shots using a Canon EOS 7D camera and 30-second exposure

But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a much stronger display tonight – with an 85% chance of activity.


They appear as shimmering green waves of light when atoms in the Earth’s high-altitude atmosphere collide with energetic charged particles from the sun.


Joe Kunches, from The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Colorado, said: “The geomagnetic storm that drives the aurora structure south is beginning right now.


Aurora Borealis over UK A Nasa picture of the northern lights

“We’re not sure how strong the storm will be but if it follows predictions there’s a good chance of seeing it in southern Britain.”


The SWPC predicted that the displays measured on what is called the KP Index could rise from a reading of one, which makes it visible in northern Scandinavia, to a reading of seven, visible in Wales and England.


A key factor in viewing the lights again this evening will be how clear the skies are.


Sky News weather producer Christopher England said: “Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will have just a few coastal showers this evening.


“That rain will largely clear overnight, leaving just a few sporadic outbreaks over the South East by morning.”


:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.




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Northern Lights Pictured Shining On UK