Northern Lights sighted all over UK and you could see them again tonight

Lizzie McAllister | Deputy News Editor Published October 11, 2026 12:22pm Updated October 11, 2026 12:22pm There are still plenty of opportunities to see the impressive light show (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) Last night, residents across the UK were treated to incredible views of the Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis, mostly visible near the Arctic Circle, are most typically seen in the UK in northern Scotland. But on Saturday, the spectacular light show could be seen as far south as Hampshire, Devon and Kent. Up and down the country, people were able to capture impressive images of the aurora. ‘Managed to get a picture near Swindon tonight,’ one person said on social media. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Another user said Bishopstone on the North Kent coast had enjoyed ‘an excellent show for a good hour’. ‘Definitely a “wow” night,’ they added. The aurora borealis over the ruins of Dunstanburgh castle, Northumberland (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) The display is normally only seen in northern Scotland (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) What are the Northern Lights? The Northern Lights are caused by solar eruptions of charged particles, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The Sun unleashed CMEs towards our planet at the end of last week. The stream of particles can then get captured by the Earth’s magnetic field and into our atmosphere. When they collide with oxygen and nitrogen particles, it emits photons of coloured light which create the Northern Lights. Can I see the Northern Lights again? If you missed last night’s display, you may still be in with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights as the Met Office said sightings could continue until Tuesday. Depending on where you are – and how clear the sky is – you may be able to see them tonight. If you missed them, you can try to spot them again tonight (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) In fact, experts have previously predicted that 2026 will be a particularly good year for spotting the Northern Lights due to increased sun activity, part of its natural cycle spanning 11 years. But if you want to spot them, you’ll need to know how. Find an area away from bright streetlights and look northwards through a mobile phone camera. Without the camera, you might not be able to see the lightshow. This is because in low-light conditions at night our eyes use rod cells to see. These cells do not perceive colour, and so we actually see in black and white. Cameras, on the other hand, will continue to perceive colour. Arrow MORE: Oodie is offering £25 off its dressing gowns and we’re adding one straight to basket Arrow MORE: Trump mocked for claiming Florida hurricane is ‘under control’ after previous ‘nuke them’ comment Arrow MORE: Man dies from serious injuries after ‘jumping into tiger enclosure’ at wildlife park News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.