The Northern Lights will be visible tonight as a red alert is issued for the Aurora Borealis phenomenon.

A rare red alert for the UK has been issued with Brits across the country able to get a glimpse of the stunning lights. Aurora Watch, the service monitoring atmospheric conditions in the UK, confirmed there was a "likely" chance of being able to see the for yourself.

Their latest alert peaked at 6pm when it confirmed there was a "likely" chance of visibility tonight. The red alert means it's "likely that the aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK". According to Aurora Watch, most parts of the country will be able to catch a glimpse, though cloudy skies could ruin the fun for many.

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The alert was recorded at Submurgh Head Lighthouse on Sumburgh Head at the Mainland of Shetland's southern tip. We are seeing more activity from Aurora Borealis than usual as the sun has entered its period of greatest activity. It means we could see more colourful displays of the Northern Lights until the middle of next year. An 11-year cycle of solar activity means there are peaks of intense activity followed by quieter periods.

During its active bursts, also known as solar maximum, the sun releases charged particles that travel through space at speeds of around one million miles per hour. Some of the particles are captured by the Earth's magnetic field and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules in the atmosphere.

Photographer Iain Watts says nailing the best photo of the natural spectacle is all about planning and preparation. An Aurora forecasting app can give you a heads up on when the northern lights will be visible in your area, reports .

A phone's camera should automatically switch to Night mode, but if it doesn't, you can manually activate it. You're free to play around with your exposure settings, but if you're using a phone camera, consider downloading a long exposure app to do the heavy lifting for you.

Niamh Kirk revealed the best way to spot the Northern Lights for yourself, recommending you get to a place with limited street lights. Niamh added: "You want the sky to be as clear and as dark as possible, so sadly it's a lot more tricky to spot them from big cities. You also want to try and be as north as possible, I am in the Midlands, but I suspect it was even more vivid for those up in ."