Will The Northern Lights Be Seen in Surrey Again?

The people of Surrey were treated to one of nature’s most captivating and magical light displays in 2024, when the Northern Lights were visible around these parts. You normally have to travel to places like Iceland or Canada to see the aurora borealis, but a twist of nature meant that they were on show across the UK for a limited time.
For people who missed the opportunity to see this phenomenon, they are surely wondering if they’ll ever get the chance again.

Home of the Surrey Space Centre

When it comes to seeing space-related phenomena, the people of Surrey have a few options. One of the most accessbile ways to enjoy space themes online is in the entertainment industry. The iGaming sector is an excellent reflection of the widespread interest in space in the UK, with space-themed games among the most popular titles.

Many slot players play Starburst slot for its outer-space adventure themes, and the title from NetEnt has been one of the most popular games on the market for years. It gives players a chance to see stars and planets up close, while spinning the reels to try to win.

There have been various other space offerings that have been well-loved in the UK in recent years. Brian Cox’s Adventures in Space and Time, for instance, is among the top science documentaries in the country. Fictional options like Star Trek: Discovery and For All Mankind have also been met with positivity from British audiences.

The other option in the area is the Surrey Space Centre, which is a world leader in space engineering. It specialises in small satellites and has ventured on various missions as well.

Northern Lights Appeared in Surrey This Year

People in Surrey were treated to a special showing of the Northern Lights last October, when some freak conditions made it possible to see them much further south than usual. This was thanks to a geomagnetic storm caused by solar activity. According to scientific experts, the sun’s surface released a burst of charged particles that travelled towards earth and interacted with the planet’s magnetic field.

The solar storm was much fiercer than usual, meaning that there was an extended range of visibility for the Northern Lights. It was picked up on by local astronomers and news outlets, meaning that most people were aware and ready to see the phenomenon when it occurred. With this hardly ever happening this far south, there’s a low chance that it will happen regularly. However, it could occur soon due to some specific solar conditions. According to experts, it’s to do with strong geomagnetic storms.

What is the Phenomenon?

The Northern Lights are almost always visible at night from certain locations on earth that are close to the magnetic poles. They’re caused by charged solar particles colliding with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, including oxygen and nitrogen. These collisions excite the gas particles, which then release energy as light.

If you want to definitely see the auroras and don’t want to wait for them to be visible here again, you could take a trip to Norway, Iceland, or Finland, which are hugely popular tourist locations for people who want to see the phenomenon.
Although the instance of seeing the Northern Lights here was rare, there is a chance that it may happen again in 2025. That’s because we’re in a period of heightened solar activity, where geomagnetic storms could be strong enough to push the auroral oval further south.