Northern Lights make spectacular rare appearance in UK & Ireland (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
The Northern Lights illuminated skies above the UK and Ireland last night, giving local photographers a rare opportunity to capture the spectacular sight of the aurora borealis.
The dazzling phenomenon was visible as far south as Oxfordshire as well as South Wales, Scotland and in parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Aurora borealis occurs when electrically charged particles from the sun enter earth's atmosphere. The phenomenon is normally best observed in regions close to the North Pole.
However, cosmic conditions and clear skies combined last night to give night sky watchers in the UK and Ireland an unforgettable light show.
Dunstanborough, with Northern Lights, just about my favourite place in the UK pic.twitter.com/Fzxu2SQZWR
— steve (@StCrad) March 7, 2016
Clouded out last night in the @Darkskypark, but we still went our into the rain to spot the #NorthernLightspic.twitter.com/sfKy3HeAuj
— ViridianSkies (@ViridianSkyArt) March 7, 2016
Aurora timelapse over @LoveLoughNeagh last night 7.45-10:00pm@Aurora_ireland@TamithaSkov@barrabest@WeatherCeepic.twitter.com/eAcGyP7dPL
— Tam Mullen (@TamMullen) March 7, 2016
#AuroraBorealis over #Inishowen#donegal@fortdunree@Aurora_ireland@barrabest@IrishTimes@wildatlanticwaypic.twitter.com/VIyBGA7AlJ
— Seamus McLaughlin (@seimimac) March 7, 2016
#justwow#aurora@Aurora_ireland@NorthLightAlert@WeatherCee@IrishCentral@IrishTimespic.twitter.com/L5yuTorHMt
— Tyler Collins (@tylerc0llins) March 6, 2016
“@ablackeyedpeace: @Aurora_ireland a couple of picture from the north coast pic.twitter.com/5KsPw4X5ZH”@MrChrisIre
— Mairead Campbell (@MaireadCampbel) March 7, 2016
Aurora near Dromore Co.Down. https://t.co/CGchohlgLK#Northernlights#Aurora Courtesy of @firebladeken#StormHourpic.twitter.com/nzxf7Fspn3
— #StormHour (@StormHour) March 6, 2016
#Aurora from Ballynamona beach #ballycotton tonight. @Aurora_irelandpic.twitter.com/DdpOV21HAC
— Rónán McLaughlin (@romclaughlin) March 6, 2016
Findhorn Beach 😍 @VirtualAstropic.twitter.com/WNwhmg7755
— Kaatie ✨ (@KaatieJane_) March 6, 2016
READ MORE: Stunning clip shows Sentinel shoot through Northern Lights as satellite heads into orbit (VIDEO)
