Northern lights photographed over south coast

At a glance

Stargazers in Dorset were treated to another display of the northern lights on Tuesday night.
The aurora borealis, as it is officially known, is created when energised particles from the Sun hit Earth's upper atmosphere.
The Earth's magnetic field deflect the particles towards the poles, which means the lights are more common in those areas.
Activity on the Sun has been increasing over the last few years and BBC Weather says it is expected to peak this year which means the aurora becomes more frequent.

17 April 2024

Image source, West Bay Photography
Image caption,
The northern lights lit up the sky over Dorset on Tuesday - with stargazers, including West Bay Photography, capturing the phenomenon.
Image source, West Bay Photography
Image caption,
Clear skies meant the aurora borealis were clearly visible over the coast.
Image source, West Bay Photography
Image caption,
BBC Weather says activity on the Sun is expected to peak this year which means the northern lights becomes more frequent.
Image source, JayPhotography
Image caption,
Away from the coast, the spectacle was even visible in Bournemouth in this photo by BBC Weather Watcher JayPhotography.

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