Home / Weather News /

Now is your chance to see the aurora!

09:30
14 October 2024

Solar maximum
Now is your chance to see the aurora!

The aurora captured on Thursday 10th October 2024 in Mid-Wales. - © Brad Hewitt

If you dream of seeing the northern lights, then this year is your year.

This is because 2024 will be the solar maximum, the period of greatest solar activity. The solar cycle lasts approximately 11 years, with a minimum and a maximum roughly every 6.5 years.

Throughout a solar cycle, sunspot numbers, indicative of solar activity, rise during the solar maximum and decline during the solar minimum, providing a measure of the overall intensity of the cycle. The solar maximum is the highest peak of activity during the solar cycle.

Scientists discovered that the solar maximum, named Solar Cycle 25, is peaking throughout most of 2024, remaining strong into early 2025 too.

The good news from that is, the more solar activity, the brighter and stronger the aurora displays.

In the solar maximum, increased sunspot activity will result in increased solar wind and an influx of charged particles in the atmosphere.

As a result, the chance of frequent and intense aurora displays rises, as does observing the northern lights at lower latitudes, which is exactly what we have already been seeing.

Recent aurora captured by you!read more
More on the topic
Small wooded island with a white beach and surrounding coral reef in the deep blue sea.
Thursday 6 November 2025

Ocean warming

Sea level rise is accelerating
Split image showing two contrasting skies — on the left, a vivid orange and red sunset behind silhouetted rooftops and chimneys; on the right, large white cumulonimbus clouds rising above trees against a pale blue sky.
Sunday 9 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

A mild autumnal week captured by you
Map of Europe showing temperatures ranging from 9 to 25 degrees, warm in the south, cool in the north.
Friday 31 October 2025

No sign of frost

Europe: Mild start to November
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
Monday 25 August 2025

Bank holiday outlook

Warm day turning gusty in places
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement