Here is the best way to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights this weekend, following the Met Office’s latest update.

Earlier this year, the Northern Lights – or Aurora Borealis if we’re being scientific – decided to migrate south and light up our skies. The following few days saw the nation divided into two camps, those who had seen the Northern Lights and those who wasted no time in telling everyone and anyone that seeing the Northern Lights was overrated.

But if you’ve been unlucky in your Aurora spotting so far don’t you worry! The Met Office has announced that another explosion of geomagnetic activity is happening in our skies, with tonight (5 October) being our best chance at seeing those dancing green lines.

Explaining why Saturday would have the strongest possibility of seeing the Northern Lights, she continued: “Saturday night has the greatest likelihood of aurora being visible, with a chance that aurora may be visible further south, across central England and similar latitudes.

Don’t be expecting to see this from your back garden (Getty Stock Images)

“Enhancement to the aurora may persist at higher latitudes throughout the remainder of the outlook period.”

What is the best way to watch the Northern Lights?

So you’re probably wondering what do I need to do in order to catch the Northern Lights? Turns out there’s quite a few things.

First of all you’ll need a clear night sky as you’re not going to be able to see the lights through the clouds, so make sure to check the weather before heading out into your back garden at 2am.

If you’re lucky enough to have a clear sky, the next thing you need to do is whip out your phone.

You may already be aware of this but the Northern Lights often looks a lot more impressive in photos than it does to the naked eye (talk about catfishing, nature edition), so a camera with a long exposure setting is a must have.

“Cameras help as the long exposure allows loads of light in and enhances the colours more than the human eye can see,” a spokesperson for the Met Office explained.

This is more accurate image of what you could see (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

“That is why you see pictures as far south as Cornwall sometimes though you’re unlikely to see it with the naked eye that far south.”

Brits have been told to brace themselves for a stunning display up above more often than we would care to admit so far this year – and on a few occasions, some lucky buggers really did get to see them.

It’s no wonder that the news that the natural phenomenon could put on a show once again is wearing a bit thin at this point – but imagine how livid you will be if you miss them, eh?

Forget the boy who cried wolf, as you will probably have us down as the lads who cried the Northern Lights.

And seen as though they usually only coming out to play within the Arctic circle, it’s worth saving yourself a few quid on a pricey holiday in favour of copping them in your own back garden instead.

For those who don’t know, the Northern Lights are a result of a ‘coronal mass ejection’ (CME), which the Met Office explains is the large expulsion of plasma from the sun’s corona.

When these particles hit our atmosphere, they create the stunning aurora.

And we’ve got a huge ‘solar flare’ to thank for sending the Northern Lights our way this time around.

The CME has been hurtling at Earth at hundreds of miles a second, and when they impact our planet’s magnetosphere – which is the space around our planet that is taken up by its magnetic field – then geomagnetic storms take place.

The Northern Lights might make another appearance in the UK this weekend (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

These cause aurora displays such as the Northern Lights, while disturbances to satellite communications and power grids being damaged are also a possibility, so it’s swings and roundabouts, really.

According to the Met, we could be in for a period of geomagnetic activity within a matter of hours tonight (4 October).

Meteorologists reckon that being in a spot where skies are clear in either Scotland, Northern Ireland or northern England will give you the best chance of catching the Northern Lights.

Space Weather Manager Krista Hammond explained that they are expected to be most visible on Saturday (5 October) night, the Mirror reports.

“There is the potential for a coronal mass ejection to arrive at Earth late on Friday or early on Saturday, which could lead to visible aurora for Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England,” the boffin said.

“In addition, we recently observed an X9 solar flare – the largest of this solar cycle so far.

Saturday night is supposed to be the best time to see them (Getty Stock Image)

She continued: “The accompanying coronal mass ejection is likely to arrive at Earth overnight on Saturday into Sunday, meaning that enhanced auroral visibility is possible further south across central England and similar latitudes, though cloud and rain could hamper viewing potential for some.”

Discussing the odds of actually seeing the Northern Lights, Hammond added: “Saturday night has the greatest likelihood of aurora being visible, with a chance that aurora may be visible further south, across central England and similar latitudes.

“Enhancement to the aurora may persist at higher latitudes throughout the remainder of the outlook period.”

So grab your flasks and your camping chairs, as looks like we’re pulling another all nighter for the Northern Lights this weekend, lads.

You might have noticed it being blooming warm outside, so, of course, take all proper precautions like slathering yourself in sunscreen, making sure you’ve got something to drink and sticking to the shade if possible.

If you want to keep your home cool then during the day you should close your curtains and shut your windows.

That might seem like the opposite of what you’d normally do in hot weather but it helps keep the hot air out, and when the sun finally goes down you can open up the windows then to let it circulate in.

Speaking of what happens when the sun goes down, the Met Office has said that we ought to be in for a geomagnetic storm that could result in the Northern Lights appearing.

Sometimes the camera captures what the naked eye struggles to see. (Getty Stock Photo)

As for how best to see it, the standard guidelines are to be somewhere where it’s not cloudy or full of light pollution to give you the best chance of looking at the night sky.

However, the best way to watch the Northern Lights this time is to add another tool to your repertoire and make use of that smartphone you love so much.

It would help if you can set your camera to night mode as your gadget can capture the majestic lightshow even if your squishy human eyes don’t do a great job of it.

A Met Office spokesperson explained: “Cameras help as the long exposure allows loads of light in and enhances the colours more than the human eye can see.

“That is why you see pictures as far south as Cornwall sometimes though you’re unlikely to see it with the naked eye that far south.”

You’ll want clear skies and no light pollution to give yourself the best chance. (Getty Stock Photo)

So there you have it gang, a handy guide to your best chance at capturing a glimpse of the Northern Lights tonight, it’s all to do with how you use your camera.

Of course, the further north you go the better your chance of actually seeing them, which is why Scandinavia is such a popular spot for a late-night viewing of the Aurora Borealis.

It’s sometimes visible to the naked eye in northern parts of the UK, but those down south are best advised to make the most of every opportunity they’ve got.

Of course, there are superstitions that going out to seek the lights brings bad luck, but the worst luck you’re likely to get is spending a summer night outside and not seeing them.

You might be able to catch them again tonight (11 May) in certain areas of the UK.

Otherwise known as aurora borealis, the Northern Lights lit up the sky in Britain last night (10 May).

The Northern Lights lit up the UK on Friday. (10 May) (PA)

Thanks to an ‘extreme’ geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights were far more visible from Britain because of the combination of clear skies and enhanced activity from the sun reaching Earth, according to the Met Office.

Many areas of the UK were able to witness the spectacle, with the likes of Suffolk, Kent, Hampshire and Liverpool lucky enough to catch a glimpse.

ITV News meteorologist and weather presenter Chris Page explained that ‘activity is expected to slowly decline’ but that there’s still a good chance we’ll be able to witness the lights again tonight.

The best time to spot the Northern Lights will be between 10.00pm and 2.00am in the UK.

Chris shared some tips on how people can maximise their chances.

Chris explained that our best chance of watching the Northern Lights is to look towards the northern horizon.

“The aurora is drawn towards the polar regions of the Earth. As a result you might not be able to see it directly overhead,” he said.

Get your camera out

While you can spot the lights with the naked eye, cameras capture it better.

“This is because cameras can adapt to different wave lengths better than our eyes,” Chris explained.

It’s also important to give yourself at least 10 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Brits shared their photos online. (PA)

Opt for dark, open spaces

Stay away from other sources of light and head to fields, parks or other unobstructed areas which are ideal for viewing.

Patience is key

Chris explained that patience and persistence is key, so it’s worth staying flexible with your plans.

Use long exposures

When photographing the aurora, use a camera with manual settings and a tripod if possible.

“Experiment with different exposure times and ISO settings to achieve the best results,” Chris advises.

Cameras capture the Northern Lights better. (PA)

Stay up late

If you want to spot the Northern Lights, you’ll probably have to stay up past your bedtime.

“Auroras are often most active in the late evening to early morning hours, so plan to stay up late or wake up early for the best chance of seeing a spectacular display,” says Chris.