The Met Office has warned Brits that they could be in for a rare treat tonight, with the northern lights being visible from parts of Britain.

Taking to X, the government agency warned that there is the possibility for people in the UK to witness the northern lights, technically called ‘an aurora’.

With clear skies expected, those in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England stand the best chance of viewing the phenomenon, which is most common in parts of Scandinavia and the Arctic.

The Met Office shared on their official X account the times those lucky enough to live in a region from which it is visible will be able to do so

But those hoping for a glimpse of the phenomenon, will have to stay up late and potentially endure a tired day tomorrow if they are to experience the sight.

According to the graphic, the lights could potentially be visible on the northern tip of Scotland from 11pm.

The chances of the majority of those in Scotland being able to see the event gets more likely at around 01:00 on Friday morning as the lights begin to become more visible further south.

For the remainder of the lucky areas who have a chance of viewing the lights, stargazers should aim to keep their eyes peeled until 04:00 at which point the lights will fade and will eventually be blocked by the rising sun.

According to the Royal Museums Greenwich, an aurora “can be seen near the poles of both the northern and southern hemispheres.

“In the north the display is known as the aurora borealis; in the south it is called the aurora australis.”

Famously known as the “northern lights” the atmospheric event has fascinated and amazed human beings for millenia, with people going to great lengths to witness and capture them.

The lights are caused by activity on the surface of the sun as solar storms give out huge clouds of electrically charged particles.

Many of these particles are deflected away but some are captured by the earth’s magnetic field, strongest at each of the poles, thus making them more likely the closer you are.