The Northern Lights caused a stir on social media last night as they danced across clear skies in parts of Ireland and the UK.
Flashes of green, red and purple formed a breathtaking display for many onlookers on Thursday thanks to a severe solar storm which meant the aurora borealis was visible across parts of the country on Thursday night.
In a post shared to X, Met Éireann said the Northern Lights could be best seen in parts of the west and north coast, with areas with very small amounts of light pollution offering the best chance to see the display.
It’s the second time in just a few months that Ireland has been able to see the lights – the results of collisions between gas particles in our atmosphere and charged particles ejected from the Sun’s atmosphere – dazzle the skies.
The colourful displays in the sky were seen across Northern Ireland, as well as in southern counties Cork, Clare, and Wexford.
Here are some of the best pictures taken by stargazers from around the country:
From the @MetEireann Climate Station in @DurrowLaois Ireland #NorthernLights pic.twitter.com/9TY1WPnQpJ
The Aurora Borealis above Poolbeg Lighthouse in Dublin Bay.https://t.co/TdkUxToBpG#northernlights #aurora #Auroraborealis #poolbeg #poolbeglighthouse #dublin #ireland pic.twitter.com/m5NVG4ak7h
Here’s some extra photos from that: “EPIC” Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights / Merry Dancers display on 10/10/2024 over Garretstown beach & the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse in West Cork, Ireland!! (including: ‘Several Stunning Light Pillars’ & a ‘Remarkable Reflection’ from… pic.twitter.com/e9Mv4trfvv
I’m speechless actually 🤩 northern lights aurora borealis Galway Ireland tonight pic.twitter.com/V9HFSjvNK6
What a night! 🌌 The Northern Lights lit up the skies from Portstewart on the north coast, to Crosshaven in the south, Carrickfergus to the east, and all the way to Sligo in the west! Thanks to everyone who braved the cold and sent in your amazing photos – literally thousands… pic.twitter.com/lnMTop2LS3
One reader who was travelling on a Ryanair flight to Shannon Airport on return from Portugal last night captured these vibrant photos of the lights while flying over Cork. It’s safe to say no filter was needed:
There were some spectacular photos from the UK as well, including this one from South Wales:
The Northern Lights really put its Heart into tonight’s Spectacular display.#aurora #Auroraborealis #northernlights pic.twitter.com/w3qHHqevKd
— Karl McCarthy (@McCarthyKarl) October 11, 2024
While shooting stars were captured in England:
OMG OMG!!!! Look at that a shooting star, what a shot!!!! #auroa #northernlights pic.twitter.com/0Ofka2PCRa
— Mark Mandale (@cumbrianbluess) October 10, 2024
If you didn’t get a chance to see the stunning phenomenon last night, it could be possible to see the Northern Lights again tonight, with the Met Office saying that “the chances of aurora remain initially, though gradually easing through 11 October, becoming increasingly confined to far northern geomagnetic latitudes by 13 October.”