Northern lights illuminate the sky over UK and Europe. Stunning pics on social media

Pics of the northern lights shared by UK-based Dr Janina Ramirez (Image credit: @DrJaninaRamirez/X)

The northern lights put up a dazzling display over UK and parts of Europe on Friday. The rare appearance surprised residents of the region, who took to social media in large numbers to share photographs of the stunning phenomenon.

According to BBC, the lights, also known as aurora borealis, became visible after one of the strongest geomagnetic storms for years hit Earth. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when the solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.

Social media platform X was painted pink, blue and iridescent purple as people shared snapshots of the northern lights. Several people who witnessed the rare northern lights used adjectives like “speechless” and “awestruck” to describe their feelings. Take a look:

Have just woken up both of my children to see the northern lights! pic.twitter.com/Z2zrUGQkwK

— Emma Clarke (@emmaclarkeillu1) May 10, 2024

For those that know me on here, you’ll know I has two things on my bucket list: see a murmuration and the Northern Lights. Achieved one last year a few miles down the road, and tonight I’ve achieved the other from my back garden. I’m overwhelmed…. pic.twitter.com/FlqpUpN4ET

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— Prof Janina Ramirez (@DrJaninaRamirez) May 10, 2024

i can’t believe i now have a pic of me and my cat admiring the northern lights in my own garden??? pic.twitter.com/gVMzeNTOGO

— (@k1k1cat) May 10, 2024

Look at my good boy with his magical lights pic.twitter.com/mqG8q2InKW

— Anneli (@pigletish) May 10, 2024

The lights were visible as far south as Italy

I captured the northern lights over Tuscany, Italy tonight. Unbelievable moment. pic.twitter.com/bXi1YcSjCn

— Shane Ware (@shanew21) May 11, 2024

“For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with NOAA’s space weather centre. “That’s really the gift from space weather – the aurora.”

The northern lights are caused by the interaction between charged particles from the Sun and the Earth's magnetic field. They are typically visible in regions near the Earth's polar regions, which includes countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland etc.

(With inputs from Associated Press)