Chance to see Northern Lights in French skies this week
Phenomena could appear for up to two hours but is not expected to be as bright as showings earlier this year
The lights have already appeared a number of times in France this year. Photo for illustrative purposes only
Paolo Bruschi/Shutterstock
Eagle-eyed nightgazers in France could get to see the Northern Lights this week as a solar flare potentially makes the phenomena present.
The presence of the lights cannot be guaranteed but astronomers believe there is a good chance of them appearing tonight (July 31) or Thursday night / Friday morning.
They are not expected to be as powerful as in May – when the lights could be seen as far south as the Mediterranean coast – but those further north in areas with low light pollution may see them.
The lights may seem more grey as in previous appearances but for those taking photographs, they will appear more reddish than usual if using a delay of a few seconds to capture them.
The lights, if they appear, can be seen if you are looking at the sky in a northerly direction.
What are the best conditions to see the Northern Lights?
As always, viewing the sky from an area with little to no light pollution is best.
Unlike some other visual phenomena such as shooting stars, the Northern Lights cannot be seen well from cities, even in dark places, as they are less bright and fleeting in nature.
You can see the lights with the naked eye, or via a camera, and a telescope is not required.
The exact time the lights may appear is unknown as it depends on when a solar flare hits the earth (with the lights appearing soon after), which scientists cannot predict.
If it hits in the morning or daytime, the lights would ‘appear’ in the afternoon skies, and not be visible. However, if it hits in the evening, the lights would appear at night.
The duration the lights will appear is also unknown – they could last for a couple of minutes, or be present for up to two hours.
There are apps and websites that attempt to inform people if the lights are more likely on a given evening, such as the social media page for the Centre Opérationnel de Météorologie de l'Espace des Alpes.
Summer skies filled with treats
Budding stargazers are lucky this summer, as a number of astronomical events can be viewed across French skies.
A ‘double meteor shower’ was at its peak last night, but may still be visible for a few more days.
In addition, the Perseids meteor (which appears each year) will fill skies with up to 100 shooting stars per hour some nights in August, visible to the naked eye.
Read more: Tips for seeing this summer’s shooting star display from France
