By KLTV Newsdesk – 

Free Leeds talk to explore the science behind the aurora and whether spectacular displays could return to northern England

Residents in West Yorkshire will have the opportunity to discover more about the Northern Lights this week, with an expert-led talk exploring the science behind auroras and the possibility of seeing them from the city again.

Planetarium Go UK will host the free public event at The Attic in Leeds on Friday 11 September at 6.30 pm.

The talk will look at why the Northern Lights occur, how aurora activity is forecast and the conditions that can allow the spectacular phenomenon to be seen from as far south as northern England.

Aurora expert to lead the talk

The event will be delivered by José Jiménez, CEO of Planetarium Go UK and AstroAndalus.

José has more than 11 years’ experience 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 a field tester of predictive aurora models, contributing to work aimed at improving forecasts 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.

Could Leeds see the aurora again?

Although Leeds is a considerable distance from the Arctic, its northern location means that strong solar storms can occasionally make the Northern Lights visible across the region.

The talk will explore what needs to happen on the Sun, in space and within Earth’s magnetic field for auroras to become visible much further south than their usual viewing areas.

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.”

Part of Planetarium Go UK’s Leeds programme

The event forms part of the wider local cultural programme being developed around the arrival of Planetarium Go UK in Leeds.

The immersive travelling planetarium is currently installed in Millennium Square, giving visitors the opportunity to experience space-themed films inside its dome.

The talk will be informal and accessible, with no previous knowledge of astronomy required.

Attendees will also receive a discount code to visit Planetarium Go UK in Millennium Square.

Event details

Date: Friday 11 September
Time: 6.30 pm
Entry: Free, subject to capacity
Venue: The Attic, Leeds
Planetarium: Planetarium Go UK, Millennium Square, Leeds

Further information and tickets are available through Planetarium Go UK Leeds.