People across Finland, from the far north all the way to the southern coast, had the chance to see the northern lights on Sunday night.
According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), the northern lights (or aurora borealis) were particularly strong in northern Finland, but cloud cover prevented the lights from reaching many other areas, especially the southwest and southeast.
Observations of the aurora borealis were however recorded in eastern areas like Kouvola, Mikkeli and Lappeenranta, according to the Skywarden Observation Service.
Geomagnetic activity — which cause the colourful light displays — was at a peak just before and after midnight on Sunday.
The activity was caused by a mass coronal eruption on the sun about a week ago, according to FMI researcher Sebastian Käki, who added that the activity is expected to decline relatively quickly.
"There is still a chance that the northern lights will return late on Monday night, but the eruption's effects will likely subside and there is no expectation of something that would increase geomagnetic activity," Käki explained.
However, it is not uncommon for aurora borealis sightings to occur in southern Finland in March, Käki noted.
"March is a very good time of the year to see the northern lights, as the nights are still dark enough," he explained, adding that it becomes more difficult to see the upper atmosphere light show as daylight hours grow during the warmer months of the year even if one is occurring.
Solar activity is currently approaching its peak, which will increase the frequency and intensity of northern lights displays this year and next.
The All Points North podcast cast its gaze skywards last autumn, hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. In this episode, we hear about the aurora-fuelled boom in tourism in Finnish Lapland, gather tips on how and when to see the lights, and learn about some of the mythology behind the phenomenon.
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