NORTH Yorkshire is about to experience its finest display of the Northern Light for 13 years according to Scarborough & District Astronomical Society.

The Aurora Borealis currently lighting up the northern night, is caused by solar flares which react with the Earth's magnetic field to produce a light show in the skies.

A free public observing night will be held on Friday at The Astronomy Centre, Low Dalby, near Pickering, from 8pm to 11pm, to give people the opportunity to view a variety of celestial objects in the late autumn sky.

A total eclipse of the moon will also occur on Saturday night at 11.32pm.

At this time, the moon enters the earth's shadow, which slowly moves across the moon's face until at 1.06am on Sunday Morning when the moon is completely engulfed,"

President John Harper said: "Totality lasts until 1.31am during which the moon is expected to shine with a dull red eerie light. After this the moon gradually reappears from the shadow until after 3.04am it will shine with its silvery fullness once more."

The next total lunar eclipses visible from this country will be on May 4 and October 28 next year. An Eclipse Party will be held at the car park above Hackness village, on Kirk Gate Road, so that visitors can see the eclipse through various telescopes.

The event will run from 11pm until the end of Totality. For more information phone Mr Harper on 01723 500389.

Updated: 08:46 Wednesday, November 05, 2003