People in Britain were amazed by the unusual and spectacular display of the Northern Lights on Friday evening, the result of a strong solar storm that was brewing and expected to continue over the next few days.
The Northern Lights, also known as the Northern Lights, usually don't reach that far south. They are seen more often at higher latitudes, closer to the North Pole. People in other European countries, including Denmark and Germany, have also reported seeing the lights.
Viewers marveled at the sight, posting their surprise, delight and sometimes shock on social media. As one user wrote: “Aurora Borealis? This time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country? Located entirely in Edinburgh?”
Another viewer wrote: “It's really gorgeous though.”
The Northern Lights have also appeared in North America, with some people reporting sightings in Maine on Friday evening. They occur when the sun ejects material from its surface.
The current solar storm is caused by a cluster of sunspots, dark, cold regions on the sun's surface. The cluster ignites and expels material every 6-12 hours.
Last Friday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a rare warning about the solar flare, because it could disrupt communications and even power grids.