Stargazers may be in with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights in parts of Greater Manchester this week.

Weather experts have issued an alert of a minor geomagnetic storm, meaning people in Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland could be in with a chance of seeing the phenomenon.

According to forecasters, the storm has a Kp number of 5, indicating the Northern Lights could be seen further south than usual.

Stargazers hoping to catch a glimpse would be more likely to see the light sensation just after midnight on Thursday.

The Aurora Borealis have been seen in the past in Oldham and Rochdale when there have been similar storms.

It occurs when solar particles cross into the earth’s atmosphere and let out burning gases, which produce different coloured lights.

People in Scotland are more likely to see the lights, however if geomagnetic activity is greater they may be seen in the north west.

Saddleworth, Rochdale, Bolton and Tameside are the best places to try and catch the Northern Lights, in areas away from streetlights and light pollution.

What are the Northern Lights?

Famously visible in the Arctic Circle as well as far off Iceland and Finland, this amazing phenomenon can actually be seen in cold, clear skies across Northern Europe - including Britain.

It is caused by invisible emissions from the sun - known as the solar wind - escaping from the star and travelling through the solar system where they collide with the earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.

The smash between the charged particles from the sun and the earth’s natural magnetic shield, allows some of the particles to slip through - normally at either one of the planet’s magnetic polar regions.

Once in our planet’s atmosphere, the solar particles release their energy into the air - making the air nearby glow - just like the gases you would find inside a fluroescent light tume.