One of the most spectacular displays of the "Northern Lights" will be seen in Irish skies tonight, according to astronomers.
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is caused by the interaction between solar wind, the Earth's magnetic field and the upper atmosphere. Astronomy Ireland said a huge explosion on the sun yesterday sent material hurtling toward Earth and caused an aurora in Irish skies.
The phenomenon could be seen last night from Northern Ireland to Cork in rare breaks in the cloud. It will be more visible tonight owing to an expected clearance spreading from the northwest later.
The Northern Lights is more commonly seen in high-altitude areas of the north and south Pole and sometimes in northern counties in Ireland. Tonight's display will be visible as far south as Co Cork.
"As skies clear from the northwest tonight we expect the curtain to be drawn back on a fantastic display of arcs, rays, and curtains of light in reds, greens and even blues," said Mr David Moore, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland.
"Only 1 per cent of the displays are so strong that they can be seen from as far south as Ireland. The last really good display we had was a year ago when it was all over the news with the first Irish video footage ever being taken," he said.
Mr Moore said the aurora comes and goes in strength, sometimes being a dim glow in the north, but in just a few minutes it can grow to fill the entire sky with bright colours and rays and curtains of light that move from second to second.
"It's an eerie and spectacular sight", Mr Moore said adding it would be visible from "dusk until dawn".
Meanwhile, the Lord Mayor will open Astronomy Ireland's Astro-Expo at 12 p.m. next Saturday. The event is for people from all around the country and includes two days of public lectures by speakers from around Europe and a 5,000 square feet exhibition.
