One stargazer in Blackburn was treated to the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Northern Lights last night, from the comfort of his own back garden.
Lancashire Telegraph Camera Club member Joe Jackson captured a stunning photograph of the Aurora Borealis over the town last night, as rare summer sightings of the phenomenon continue in the UK.
The Northern Lights are typically reserved for winter and the Nordic countries, but increased and stronger solar activity has meant increased sightings further south in the UK, and throughout the summer.
Incredibly strong activity in May meant much of the UK could observe the Northern Lights from their gardens, and continuing activity has made the aurora visible in the night sky through summer.
Describing his photo, Mr Jackson said: "The Plough constellation (left), Cassiopeia constellation (right), North Star Polaris above the tree and Aurora from the comfort of my humble garden in Blackburn Monday evening.
"Chuffed that I finally captured Aurora on camera."
On X, Craig Smith captured the Northern Lights between 10.30pm and 11.40pm from his house and from Belthorn looking over Blackburn, Lancashire.
Many stargazers had been out late yesterday hoping to spot the Perseid meteor shower which was at its strongest last night into this morning, as Earth passed through a cloud of cometary dust.
Explaining the rise in the number of Northern Lights appearances, Krista Hammond, a manager at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC), said: “Activity on the sun, and in particular the number of visible sunspots, varies over roughly an 11-year period, known as the solar cycle.”
The last solar minimum, which is when the Sun had the lowest frequency of visible sunspots in the solar cycle, occurred in December 2019.
This means that the sun’s activity is currently increasing, with the next solar maximum expected around 2025.
As a result, more of the Sun's electrically charged particles are travelling towards the Earth and getting caught in its magnetic field, thus producing more of the aurora effect.
Ms Hammond added: “Over the coming years, as we continue towards the solar maximum, we can expect to see an increase in the frequency of space weather events, with more chances to see the Aurora Borealis over the UK.”
Did you see the Northern Lights or Perseid meteor shower? Send your photos to lt_editorial@newsquest.co.uk.
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