Northern Lights visible in Scotland this weekend – how to see them

THE Northern Lights will be visible across parts of Scotland this weekend.

The Met Office said the Aurora Borealis is set to be visible in northern Scotland on Saturday and Sunday.

The weather phenomenon, which is most commonly seen over high polar latitudes, is chiefly influenced by geomagnetic storms which originate from activity on the Sun.

(Image: Dawid Lawdzin) The sun works on a cycle of about 11 years called the solar cycle – with peak sunspot activity on the surface of the Sun referred to as solar maximum.

Sunspots give the potential for Earth-directed releases of large bursts of energy, called coronal mass ejections, which can lead to aurora visibility.

Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.

As they collide, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.

How to see the Northern Lights in Scotland this weekend

According to the Met Office, the Northern Lights will be visible in northern Scotland this weekend.

The meteorological organisation said: “There is a chance of aurora sightings later on 8 March into 9 March across northern Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes where skies are clear.

(Image: Justin Webber) “High latitudes are likely to see the aurora overnight 9 March into 10 March and to a lesser extent on 10 March into 11 March.

“The aurora is likely to be seen at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere on Saturday night where skies are clear, and to a lesser extent on Sunday night. This is due to the anticipated onset of fast winds.”