"Rare Spectacular Northern Lights Display Expected Tonight: A Guide to Viewing the Aurora Borealis"

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, may be visible tonight across northern regions of the UK and the US due to a recent solar storm. The Met Office predicts moderate auroral activity, making sightings likely in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of northern England. The Shetland Islands are a recommended location for viewing. The northern lights are caused by solar activity, with electrically-charged particles from the Sun colliding with particles in Earth's upper atmosphere. Different colors of the auroras are produced by different atoms in the atmosphere. Solar flares can potentially disrupt radio and satellite communications, but the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere provide protection.