HERE is the weekly Skywatch column from Stuart Atkinson.

The Sun is extremely active at the moment, firing off solar flares like firecrackers which have triggered some very impressive displays of the aurora borealis, some which have even been visible as far south as Norfolk.

Of course, the best displays were hidden behind the Cumbrian cloud, including a really good one last night (Saturday Sept 3rd).

But this solar activity is only going to continue, and strengthen, so we will have other opportunities to see the northern lights from our part of the world.

How can you know in advance when you might see them?

If you're a user of social media there are Facebook groups and Twitter accounts you can follow that will notify you when a display is brewing or even happening.

You can also download apps onto your phone or tablet which will "ping" you an alert when a display is possible.

I definitely recommend using these if you can. If you're not that technical it basically comes down to going out on clear nights, looking north, and seeing if anything is going on. Just be aware that actual displays of the aurora very, very rarely look anything like the spectacles shown on TV.

TV footage is usually speeded up dramatically, and the colours are enhanced too. Likewise, photos posted online and featured in magazines are often enhanced to a ridiculous degree, just to make them look more impressive.

So, although a major storm can paint the sky bright red and green, they are extremely rare.

Instead of seeing the sky blazing with bright red and green beams and curtains of light, swishing, and swaying furiously, you're more likely to see a pale grey-green rainbow low in the north, with grey-pink beams coming out of it, moving slowly, fading in and out of view.

But you won't even see that from a town because of light pollution and surrounding buildings.

If you want to see the aurora you'll need to get away from the lights, to somewhere with a clear, flat view to the north, then you'll have a chance.