Could the Northern Lights be seen from Leeds again?

This Friday 11 September, Planetarium Go UK brings aurora expert José Jiménez to The Attic for a free public talk on the science behind the Northern Lights and the possibility of future aurora displays over Leeds.

Planetarium Go UK will host a free public talk on the Northern Lights at The Attic, Leeds, this Friday 11 September at 6:00pm, offering local residents the chance to discover why auroras happen, how they are forecast, and under what conditions they can sometimes be seen from northern England.

The talk will be delivered by José Jiménez, CEO of Planetarium Go UK and AstroAndalus, who has spent more than 11 years guiding aurora observation trips and has travelled to the Arctic region more than 25 times in search of the Northern Lights.

For the past five years, he has also collaborated with the European Space Agency’s Space Weather Office as field testers of predictive aurora models, helping improve the forecasting of aurora activity. As part of this work, José has been invited to participate in specialist meetings and conferences in Frankfurt, Germany, and Umeå, Sweden.

Leeds is located far enough north that, during strong solar storms, auroras can occasionally become visible from the region. The talk will explain what needs to happen on the Sun, in space and in Earth’s magnetic field for the Northern Lights to reach skies as far south as Leeds.

The event forms part of the wider local cultural programme being developed around the arrival of Planetarium Go UK, an immersive travelling planetarium currently installed in Millennium Square, Leeds.

José Jiménez said:

“The Northern Lights are one of the most beautiful natural phenomena on Earth, but they are also a direct consequence of solar activity and space weather. Leeds may not be the Arctic, but under the right conditions, auroras can reach skies much further south than many people imagine. This talk is about helping people understand what they are seeing, why it happens, and when they might have a chance to see it again.”

The talk will be informal, accessible and open to all audiences. No previous astronomy knowledge is required.

Attendees will also receive a discount code to visit Planetarium Go UK in Millennium Square, where visitors can enjoy immersive space films inside the dome.

Time: 6:00pm
Entry: Free access, subject to capacity
Planetarium: Planetarium Go UK, Millennium Square, Leeds
Tickets and information: https://leeds.planetariumgo.co.uk/

About Planetarium Go UK

Planetarium Go UK is a travelling immersive planetarium experience touring major cities across the United Kingdom. Its mission is to bring astronomy, science and the wonder of the night sky closer to the public through immersive films, educational activities and cultural collaborations.