Observers in northern latitudes may be in for some spectacular displays of aurora, or northern lights, tonight, Tuesday 3rd August.

The Director of the BAA’s Solar Section, Lyn Smith, explains: “Two extremely long filaments have been traversing the solar disk in the last few days ahead of Active Region 1092. On August 1st, multiple components of these filaments erupted resulting in intense solar activity including a C-class flare, and possibly two coronal mass ejections. Energetic particles from these ejections are due to reach Earth’s upper atmosphere on August 3rd and 4th. Observers should look high in the night sky, around midnight, for aurora displays. NOAA predict a 10% chance of a major goemagnetic storm and a 45% chance of some geomagnetic activity during this period.”

Anyone imaging any aurora should send their images to the BAA’s Aurora Section: http://britastro.org/aurora