Northern Lights Dazzle Over Ireland: Your Guide to Aurora Visibility

Parts of Ireland have been treated to displays of the Northern Lights tonight, with the potential for more widespread visibility over the coming days, though forecasts remain uncertain. The possible auroral activity follows a powerful solar flare on Sunday, which propelled a large and fast-moving cloud of plasma – known as a ‘coronal mass ejection’ – almost directly towards Earth. When such plasma clouds reach the planet, they can disrupt Earth’s magnetic field, forcing charged particles into the upper atmosphere. These particles interact with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to glow and creating the colourful light displays associated with auroras. Initial projections suggested that the timing of the disturbance would favour visibility in North America rather than Europe. However, updated data now points to an earlier arrival, increasing the chances of sightings closer to home. Visibility in parts of Ireland will depend in part on cloud cover, which may limit viewing in some areas, though clear spells are expected. Below can be viewed several photos from Co. Longford on Monday night, with similar scenes in the West and other midland areas.