Home / Editor's Pick /

Did you spot them? Northern Lights shine over Europe

11:00
24 April 2023

Did you spot them?
Northern Lights shine over Europe

This time-lapse of the aurora was captured by user Chantal Anders in Ense, Germany.

The UK and Europe were treated to a widespread display of the Northern Lights on Sunday, one of the final shows of the season.

Late Sunday evening, a powerful aurora borealis reached far into Europe.

Visible as far as the Alps, the geomagnetic storm appeared a day after the Lyrid meteor shower reached its peak.

Northern LightsNorthern Lights seen in Brandenburg, Germany. - © Sarah Böhm

The Northern Lights actually happen all year round, but since the Sun's rays are a million times more powerful, we can only see the display when it's dark.

What causes auroras?read more

Therefore, it is typically during the winter months that we have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

Aurora displays are starting to become more commonplace in the UK and Ireland as the Sun enters the most active phase of its solar cycle.

As the Sun approaches this phase, which it should reach in 2025, larger and more frequent solar flares and coronal mass ejection events will shoot solar particles towards Earth, triggering auroras.

If you were one of the lucky ones who saw the Northern Lights, we want to see your photos and videos too! Use the uploader to submit your shots.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Split image showing dark, textured storm clouds hanging low in the sky on the left, and a bright rainbow arching over a parking lot with cars under a colourful sunset sky on the right, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday 27 December 2025

Your weather - Your shots

2025 as captured by you!
Split image with wind radar showing gust of 108 mph on the left, and wind radar showing Hurricane Melissa over Jamaica on the right.
Thursday 1 January 2026

July to December

2025: The year in weather
Split image showing a family and children playing and sledding on a snowy field with winter hills on the left, and a UK weather forecast map on the right with sun and cloud icons, city temperatures, and cloud cover over northern Scotland, divided by a curved white line.
Wednesday 24 December 2025

Unlikely this year

Defining a White Christmas
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split weather map showing the UK and Ireland. The left side illustrates strong winds circulating around a low-pressure system, with gusts of 20–30 mph highlighted in orange and yellow. The right side shows radar imagery with widespread blue rain bands and patches of thunderstorms, especially over northern England and Scotland.
Thursday 28 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Remaining widely unsettled
Wednesday 27 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Frontal system brings heavy rain
Sunday 24 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mammatus clouds widely spotted
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList