aurora
This is a stunning aurora sighting taken from Kinbane Castle in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Twitter/Met Office

People from different corners of the world were treated to an ethereal display of coloured lights that dotted the night sky. Netizens and meteorologists posted awe-inspiring snaps of the northern lights.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a natural phenomenon. Big storms send gusts of charged solar particles across space and if Earth is along the path of those particle streams, our planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere react, EarthSky explained.

The intense aurora lights were sighted in the far north – countries bordering the Arctic Ocean – Canada and Alaska, Scandinavian countries, Iceland, Greenland and Russia. However, strong light displays extended down into more southerly latitudes in the US.

Science has an explanation for the numerous colours in the aurora. They are attributed to various gases in the earth’s atmosphere that are discharged when excited. The aurora’s green hue is given off by oxygen, while the blue and red colors are caused by nitrogen.

On March 27, NASA spotted a “coronal hole” (influx of solar particles emanating from a gap in the sun’s magnetic field) on the side of the sun facing Earth. That led to the sun releasing clouds of charged particles many times larger than our planet, National Geographic reported. The bursts of particles hitting the earth's magnetic field create geomagnetic storms.

Eye-riveting displays

Among the most attractive snaps were from countries like Northern Ireland and Alaska. The Met Office, UK’s national weather service, tweeted “a stunning aurora sighting taken from Kinbane Castle in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.” A spectacular cool green display of the northern lights was also spotted over the Eden Valley, Cumbria.

American meteorologist Mark Tarello tweeted, “WOW! Northern Lights seen this weekend near Fairbanks, Alaska.” He shared a photograph of the celestial occurrence draping the horizon in shades of purple and green. Early sightings of the northern lights were also reported late March near Staples, Minnesota, USA.

Other countries where aurora sightings were seen in full splendor include Scotland, specifically over Opinan Beach in Gairloch. The dazzling display of the uncommon solar particle activity that unfolded in space was also seen in different parts of Britain, including the far southern part of Wales. An aurora creates streamers of light over the aurora also created a mesmerizing sight over Canada's Yukon Territory.

The aurora sometimes does not run on schedule, at times occurring with only half an hour of warning. There are suggested places, nonetheless, on where to spot them best. When there is a "solar max" sunspot activity is increased, leading to greater chances of seeing the northern lights.