Rogue Lancaster University lawnmower accidentally sets off trigger for Northern Lights across Europe

Oops. We think one gardener might be feeling a little bit silly today.

The Northern Lights, which were not present in Lancaster recently

The (now hapless) gardener was going about his business at Lancaster University on Tuesday afternoon when his rogue sit-on lawnmower got too close to a sensor and accidentally set off a Northern Lights alert — which then made its way as far as the Faroe Islands.

(They’re in prime Aurora-spotting position between Norway and Iceland, if your minor European geography needs some work.)

A “massive spike” in geomagnetic activity, suggesting that the Northern Lights would soon appear in the UK, was registered and shared by Lancaster-based Aurora Watch before the results were found to be “spurious.”

We don’t blame the gardener, to be honest. He was probably using Lancaster’s one hot day of the year to have a nap and crashed into the sensor. Seems forgivable.

Still, imagine explaining that one to your boss (or indeed, to the entire meteorology population of Northern Europe.)

According to the BBC, Lancaster’s scientists are going to be having words with its grounds staff to make sure Aurora-based cock-ups are avoided in future.

Lesson learned for gardeners everywhere: keep those miscreant sit-on lawnmowers in check.

Originally published at https://www.thenationalstudent.com.