Can You See the Northern Lights in England?
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are an amazing natural spectacle, when coloured skies fill the sky. Common in Scandinavia, you usually only see them in England after severe storms.
It’s easier to view them in places free from light pollution, as they are far easier to see in dark skies with no cloud cover, and you have to look north!
The colours are caused due to electrons hitting gaseous particles, as they enter earth’s atmosphere. Oxygen generates green lights (lower altitude) and red lights (higher altitude) while nitrogen causes blue and purple lights.
Recently in England, a rare event occurred, when people as far south as London and Kent saw incredible pink displays of the Northern Lights, which hardly ever happens.
Concerns over Blackpool Lighting Plans
Although astronomers are aware that the Blackpool lights bring in substantial tourism income, they are concerned over plans to create an artificial ‘aurora borealis’ (northern lights) by way of a 1KW laser to shine in the sky.
This would not just blight the night sky, but ruin views across the county (and also for Merseyside, Cumbria, North Wales and even Isle of Man).
A Children’s Guide to Arctic Birds is an illustrated guide to birds that live in the Arctic year-round, and the 100 species that travel their each year to lay eggs and raise their young. Learn of 12 birds that call this snowy paradise their home. Learn about each birds’ eggs and nests, laid during short Arctic summers. Including ravens and Tundra swans, that often migrate to England.
