The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, illuminated the skies above Ireland on the first day of 2025, captivating residents and visitors alike. This stunning celestial display is attributed to heightened solar activity and the ongoing solar cycle.
The first day of 2025 has kicked off with a bang as the stunning Northern Lights paint the Irish skies. Aurora Alerts Ireland have confirmed sightings of the lights as darkness fell across the country. The atmospheric spectacle will be visible in some areas tonight, and you can keep track of it using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tracker here, which provides a thirty-minute forecast for the Aurora.
These mesmerising lights are caused by collisions between gas particles in our atmosphere and charged particles constantly being emitted from the sun's atmosphere. The vibrant colours of the auroras vary depending on the type of gas particles colliding at any given time. The frequency of solar flare activity changes with the 11-year solar cycle, and as we're currently in an especially active period, this is why the Northern Lights are seen more frequently. To ensure a good view, the general rule is that the further north you are the better, but Ireland's dark sky zones also offer excellent vantage points. Ireland boasts two officially recognised dark sky places, Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve and Mayo International Dark Sky Park. It seems like we're able to witness this celestial spectacle more than ever before, and Johan Jaques, Chief Meteorologist at KISTERS, explained to RSVP Live exactly why. According to Johan, heightened solar activity is the main reason for the increasing number of aurora sightings over Irish skies at lower latitudes. He explained: 'We are currently approaching the peak of solar activity in Solar Cycle 25. This cycle will continue until 2030 but will peak next year. It's usually more visible around the spring and autumn equinoxes when the sun is perpendicular to the Earth's equator
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