Aurora Borealis lights up Scotland as locals capture stunning images across country

Scotland's night skies were lit up with hues of green and purple over the past few nights as the Northern Lights put on a spectacular show across the country.

Some of the most ideal conditions of the year led to the best showing of the 'Mirrie Dancers' - as they are known in Scotland - yet in 2021.

Normally, between December and January is the best time to see the breath-taking phenomenon, but a combination of clear skies and a solar flare saw reports of sightings as far south as Dumfries and Galloway in the last few days.

People in Northern England also said they were able to spot them.

Taking their name from Aurora (the Roman goddess of dawn) and Boreas (the Greek name for north wind), the lights are caused by solar activity.

Charged particles in the solar wind collide with the earth's magnetic field, which pulls them north and south to the poles.

This means that Scotland is one of the best places in Europe outwith Scandinavia to see them.

Thankfully, Scots were on hand to snap some stunning shots of the natural spectacle.

Andrew Smith, co-founder of Little Brown Dog Gin, snapped an incredible image of the northern lights above Moray's famous Bow Fiddle Rock, near Portknockie.

Andrew Smith, co-founder of Little Brown Dog Gin, in Aberdeenshire at Bow Fiddle Rock (Andrew Smith)

People spotted them in Shetland, Dornoch, Skye, Oban, the north east and in the dark skies around Dumfries.

And it wasn't just the experts who were able to capture them, one Twitter user was able to spot them from her bedroom window.

Twitter user Joanne Panton @joannepanton captured the show from her window (Twitter/@joannepanton)

Joanne Panton (@joannepanton) wrote: "Well that is unexpected (hence the poor quality pic)! An Aurora show from the house right now!!!"

The Northern Lights were even spotted above Edinburgh (Simon Messer / SWNS)

They were spotted further south than normal, with skywatchers in Edinburgh and Glasgow lucky enough to see them overcome the usual light pollution.

While reports from England stated that unusually they were even seen as far south as Cornwall.

Twitter user @JohnGM7PBB captured an array of incredible shots with some of the most vibrant colours we've seen.

Did you manage to capture any shots? Post them in the comments below or on our social media.

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