Northern Lights: UK in awe as thousands spot aurora borealis in night sky during rare solar storm
The Mirror readers have shared some stunning pictures of the Northern Lights, which were visible from areas including Merseyside, Kent, Norfolk and Sussex last night
Brits were in awe to witness a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights last night - following a rare solar storm warning - and snapped some spectacular pictures.
Some photos, sent to us at the Mirror, show the lights, also known as aurora borealis, which one reader described as "a little bit of magic". They became visible after one of the strongest geomagnetic storms for years hit Earth, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issuing a rare solar storm warning. Such storms increase people's chances of seeing the lights.
Did you take any pictures of the Northern Lights? Send them to web.news@trinitymirror.com
Excited onlookers reported seeing the display from various areas, including Liverpool, Kent, Norfolk and Sussex. There have also been sightings in parts of Scotland. Nicole Jay, who watched the spectacular display from her garden in Essex with husband Richie, said: "It was such an incredible experience. Especially from our own garden! A little bit of magic."
The Mirror has today published a gallery of wonderful images, most of which captured by readers, as it celebrates the rare appearance of the Northern Lights, made even more special with extremely clear skies following one of the hottest days of the year as temperatures exceeded 24C.
1 of 13 Sightings were possible from across the country due to the clear skies on Friday night
(Image:Georgia Diebelius)2 of 13 Leigh O’Gorman was dazzled by the rare appearance of the aurora borealis
(Image:Leigh O’Gorman)3 of 13 The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon over Basingstoke, Hampshire
(Image:PA)4 of 13 Sinead James caught the spectacular purple glow in this picture sent to us
(Image:Sinead James)
5 of 13 BBC Weather presenter Elizabeth Rizzini said the "fantastic conditions" made for optimum viewing across the UK
(Image:Sinead James)6 of 13 This was the incredible scene across Merseyside on Friday night
(Image:PA)7 of 13 In Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, bright, swirling curtains of lights were snapped on camera
(Image:PA)
8 of 13 The aurora borealis range in colour from green to pink and scarlet
(Image:PA)9 of 13 The phenomenon, as pictured here by Richie Jay in Essex, is caused by charged particles from the sun hitting gases in the Earth's atmosphere
(Image:Richie Jay)10 of 13 Different gases in the Earth's atmosphere become energised by the charged particles and form different colours
(Image:PA)
11 of 13 Oxygen atoms glow green - the colour most often seen in the Northern Lights, while nitrogen atoms emit purple, blue and pink
(Image:PA)12 of 13 This imposing scene was pictured in Thockrington, Northumberland
(Image:PA)13 of 13 Storms of this scale could potentially impact infrastructure, including satellites and the power grid, it was warned
(Image:Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)