Pictured in possibly every national paper today are fabulous pictures of nature putting on one of its most awe-inspiring shows over north Donegal with a rare glimpse of the Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights.
The stunning display was seen by thousands of people and captured on camera along the north Donegal coast on Sunday night and yesterday morning.
This picture was taken by Adam Porter, Chairman of the Buncrana Camera Club during a parting of the clouds on Sunday night when the rain stayed away just long enough to give him a chance to take the images. The picture was taken at Urris in Inishowen.
They are not usually seen as far south as Ireland, but this one has. It was due to hit earth’s atmosphere at 10.30pm on Saturday, but it did not come until Sunday morning and the activity levels kept building during the day.
The Kp, or radiation level, which is a measure of how strong the display will be, was between 4.5 and 5, enough for the lights to be seen from Donegal, but it needs a 6 for the view to be seen across Ireland.
Those who missed the Northern Lights on Sunday night may have another chance in the next couple of days. The sun, which is going through its active phase at the moment, threw off its biggest solar flare for six years yesterday morning. The flare is travelling at an estimated 6.7 million km/h towards earth.
These sure are amazing sights although it has been advised that we don’t travel long distances to go see them because we could very well be disappointed and it may not be visible.
Paula.
