Northern Lights display captured across Cumbria

Thursday, November 11, 2021

A spectacular display of the Northern Lights was captured by photographers overnight across parts of Cumbria.

The Aurora Borealis is caused when atoms in the Earth’s high-altitude atmosphere collide with energetic charged particles from the sun.



The lights were visible on a Wednesday night due to a particularly strong solar flare, known as a coronal mass ejection, the Met Office said.

Star-gazers could see more displays on Thursday as conditions continue.

Jonny Gios, from Kendal, was taking pictures of the Milky Way at Blea Tarn when he said he could see some interesting colours in the Langdales.

Tom Kay from Flimby, said he shot his image on a on fully manual vintage lenses adapted for use on a mirrorless digital camera.

The 45-year-old said that he was completely taken aback by the amount of activity when he set my camera up. It was cold and windy down in the prom but well worth the effort.

Met Office space weather expert, Krista Hammond, said that further geomagnetic storms were possible that night and into the early hours the next morning, due to the ongoing effects of the coronal mass ejection.

This means there is the potential for further sightings of the Northern Lights overnight.

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