People across Scotland have shared stunning images of the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, after a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun on September 24, 2023.
The aurora is most commonly seen in the Arctic and Antarctic, but it can sometimes be seen in lower latitudes during periods of high geomagnetic activity.
The Northern Lights are caused by charged particles from the sun that interact with Earth's atmosphere.
The particles are deflected by Earth's magnetic field, and they collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, which causes them to emit light.
The color of the Northern Lights depends on the type of atom or molecule that the particles collide with. Oxygen atoms emit green and red light, while nitrogen atoms emit blue and purple light.
The Northern Lights are a beautiful and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. They are a reminder of the power of the sun and the vastness of the universe.