And they'll happen again, researchers say

Oct 8, 2015 17:22 GMT  ·  By
Auroras form when highly energetic particles from space collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere
   Auroras form when highly energetic particles from space collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere

The aurora borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, is usually reserved to the Arctic circle. This week, however, such stunning light shows also happened in the sky over the UK. 

Since it's not every day that the night sky turns red and green and bright all over, people nearly strained their necks looking up. They also snapped some really cool photos. Scroll down to have check them out. Pinky promise you won't be disappointed.

How the Northern Lights come to happen

Researchers say the Northern Lights happen when highly energetic electrons chasing around space find their way to our planet and enter its atmosphere. Here, these electrons collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms floating about at altitudes of about 90 to 300 kilometers (roughly 56 to 186 miles).

Having highly energetic electrons bump into nitrogen atoms forms either blue or purplish-red auroras, depending on how high up in Earth's atmosphere the collisions occur. Then, run-ins with oxygen atoms birth yellowish-green or intense red auroras, once again depending on where the clashes happen.

Scientists say there's also such a thing as black auroras. To us, they appear as dark patches traversing the bright and colored light shows. So, basically, they look like a whole lot of nothing. Researchers, however, describe them as the result of electrons leaving the atmosphere and heading for space.

Explaining the Northern Lights above the UK

The reason auroras usually appear over polar regions is that Earth's magnetic field is weaker at the poles, and so highly energetic particles from space can easily penetrate the atmosphere and go chasing after atoms to bump into. Make no mistake though, they can form over other regions as well.

Scientists say the reason auroras appeared over the UK Wednesday was that the Sun happens to be a wee moody these days and is sending high-speed solar winds our way. With these winds come highly energetic particles, one of the main ingredients of the Northern Lights.

“During the current phase of the solar cycle coronal holes that begin the cycle in the Sun’s ‘polar’ regions have now migrated towards the Sun’s equator, meaning they are on a similar line of latitude to the Earth (i.e. facing the planet rather than directed north and south out of the Solar System).”

“These coronal holes give rise to high speed solar wind streams that buffet the Earth, disturbing the Earth’s magnetic field,” explain Met Office researchers.

There will be other auroras above the UK

It is expected that other auroras will form in the sky above the UK in the coming weeks. This is because solar winds will continue to pummel Earth's atmosphere.

Unless clouds gather, the light shows will most definitely be quite a sight, so best ready your cameras and brace yourselves for one of nature's absolute best performances.