In the summer you can also experience close-ups from the seabird colonies as they rest on the cliff edge. Don’t give up. The aurora are only visible in dark skies so the best time of year to see the Northern Lights in Scotland is the autumn and winter months. Usually, it’s the north of the UK which gives you the best chance of seeing the “mirrie dancers”. A good display may last for no longer than 15-30 minutes. Our eyes don’t see such bright, vivid colours that are captured by a camera. Bonnie Diamond, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “A Coronal Mass Ejection has happened and the effects of that are expected to arrive later. As a general guide, we recommend: We don’t suggest you plan a holiday to see the Northern Lights in the months of: Although there is still a chance you may see the aurora if it’s dark enough at night, if your main aim is to see them, you’re best to avoid these months. Our relaunched 60 NORTH visual radio service, Escape to your own happy place with this new binaural HD audio experience, Shetland's puffins have now departed our shores, Located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at Eshaness Lighthouse, The Drongs are a group of sea stacks off the coast of Hillswick Ness, Northmavine, View the wide skies and ever-changing weather over Ronas Hill. Dress in your warmest outdoor clothing including gloves and a hat. Make 2020 or 2021, the year you see the Northern Lights in Scotland. Can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland? Taking photographs of the Northern Lights can be tricky but worthwhile because the camera sees the aurora better than the human eye. It’s worth checking at any time though if it’s dark. A solar storm on its way to Earth could mean the Northern Lights might be seen from the UK tonight, forecasters have said.

A post shared by Graham Bradshaw (@bradders_72) on Jul 4, 2018 at 12:16pm PDT, See places to stay in the Cairngorms and Aviemore, Great Little Breaks have some short break holidays at locations in Scotland suitable for seeing the Northern Lights. I would like to enter the aurora watch app to my iPhone, so I hope I can. You can actually see them in the UK and Scotland is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights (also known as the aurora borealis).

A smartphone normally has a compass. Try setting up watch on the beach at Dingieshowe, the coast at Birsay, or the top of Wideford Hill. New camera covering the north of Lerwick Harbour. Enjoy views of the Esplanade and over Victoria Pier in Lerwick. Please remember that the Northern Lights are unpredictable and even if they are forecast, you may not see them. A clear night sky will be ideal for watching the Northern Lights but the temperature will drop even more. If you found this post useful and think your friends would like it, please share it with them. Some of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands are: The Outer Hebrides is a fantastic place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland and I’ve been fortunate to see them several times whilst on holiday on North Uist. Northern Lights forecast. web browser that supports HTML5 video.
Required fields are marked *. I use their free smartphone app. For as little as £5.99 a month you can access all of our content, including Premium articles. Watch incoming and outgoing flights, as well as keeping an eye on the weather. Click on one of the locations on the map to view the feed. When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in 2020? Our naked eye can most easily see the green-yellow part of the spectrum where the sun emits most of it’s light. In theory, the Northern Lights can be seen anywhere within the UK if geomagnetic conditions are very active. Northern Lights Scotland forecast 2020/2021 – will I see the Northern Lights tonight? Displays could continue for several hours if you’re very lucky. Torches with red lights are available from Amazon.

RED-EYE PLUS. They can also be happening but not visible to the naked eye. The Northern Lights can happen at any time of year but because summer nights are very light in the north of Scotland (and the rest of the aurora-watching places) it’s virtually impossible to see them during the summer months. It’s also important to remember that there’s no guarantee of seeing the Northern Lights so choose a destination that interests you in other ways too.

So where can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland? It needs to be a clear night – you may be able to still see them through broken cloud but if you can’t see the stars then you won’t see the northern lights.

You’re most likely to see green but the they can also appear white/grey. Cliff Cam 3 looks north from Sumburgh Head. © DC Thomson Co Ltd 2020. Look north but be aware that if there are high levels of geomagnetic activity you should check in all directions. Looking over Lerwick Harbour towards Bressay from Lerwick Town Hall, Looking west towards King Harald Street from Lerwick Town Hall. “This type of active geomagnetic storm means that there is the possibility of the aurora borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. This island chain has little light pollution so take your pick from Lewis, Harris, South Uist, North Uist, Benbecula, Barra and Eriskay.

To learn more about Shetland visit Shetland.org. Be patient. Moray’s Astronomy Club, Sigma, sometimes runs public aurora watching sessions. Further north, in the Scottish Highlands, or east, in Dundee and Aberdeen, the sky is likely to be clearer. Check out our other posts about the Northern Lights in Scotland including: Thank you for this most informative article. If you get up in the night for the loo or to get a drink, don’t miss the opportunity to look outside. This means photos of the aurora are normally more impressive than what you will see live. The Northern Lights are created by the Earth’s spectra of gases and the height in the atmosphere where the collision of particles from the sun and the Earth’s gases takes place.
The lack of large cities and towns in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland means you won’t have to go far to find your perfect spot. Situated in the heart of Lerwick this webcam overlooks the busy harbour area. The Coll community has rejected the introduction of street lighting making it one of the best places to observe for star-gazing and aurora-watching.

It takes a bit of dedication to see the Northern Lights. All Rights Reserved. Preserve your night vision by using a torch with a red light instead of white light. Orkney is off the north coast of Scotland so another good place for Northern Light hunting.

The Northern Lights don’t appear on set dates each year. The Shetland Webcam network is supported by Shetland Broadband, Lerwick Port Authority, the Promote Shetland project and commercial sponsors. See: 15 stunning photos of the Northern Lights in Scotland. Locals said that was quite early as normally they wouldn’t see them until October. The Met Office said the phenomenon, known as the aurora borealis, may be visible in Scotland. Read our top tips on how to view the Northern Lights and then take a holiday to Scotland to see this breath-taking natural spectacle before it’s too late. Looking north from Sumburgh Head, in the summer you can see close-up views of seabird colonies. In the summer this webcam becomes alive with activity as the seabird colonies return to the cliffs. Choosing accommodation with large windows can help you do this without having to actually go outside in your pyjamas. In Shetland they call the Northern Lights the “mirrie dancers” which is a perfect name for these dancing ribbons of light. Avoid places with street lights, such as Lerwick, as this can reduce your chances.

Check out our directory for some stunning holiday accommodation in the Scottish Highlands & Islands to see the Northern Lights. We plan to be in Sutherland in October, and perhaps we will have the opportunity to revel in the Lights. The southward shift of the lights today is caused by an ejection of plasma, known as a Coronal Mass Ejection from the Sun, which followed a solar flare on Wednesday.

Sit back and watch the most magical light show the planet has to offer: the Northern Lights cameras from across Northern Europe. We recommend booking your accommodation in a remote area with little or no light pollution so you might be able to see the  Northern Lights from where you’re staying.