Sky display was 'light pollution'

Pictures shown around the world of the famous Northern Lights above Ireland have been claimed by a scientist merely to show light…

Pictures shown around the world of the famous Northern Lights above Ireland have been claimed by a scientist merely to show light pollution from a nearby town.

Respected Irish astronomer David Gradwell said there was scientific proof the pictures did not show the Aurora Borealis. The stargazer, based in Birr, Co Offaly, said the photographers mistakenly captured light pollution from nearby towns.

“They’re not Northern Lights, that’s light pollution from a nearby town or sports field illuminating the underside of the clouds. From my solar observatory near Birr I measure the Earth’s magnetic field and there was minimal impact from the coronal mass ejection impact over low altitudes . . . I do hope that photographers will not be disappointed,” he said.