Skip to content

In pictures: The Northern Lights in Scotland

Elise Brand
BBC Weather Watchers/Sound-of-islay The Northern Lights appeared over Port Askaig in Argyll and ButeBBC Weather Watchers/Sound-of-islay
The Northern Lights appeared over Port Askaig on Islay overnight

The Northern Lights have again been spotted over parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland overnight.

As we come into the darker months the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis rise due to the longer periods of darkness and frequent clear nights.

The phenomenon is caused by charged particles from the sun hitting gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

This causes the colourful streaks of light that we are starting to see in Scotland this year.

Here are some of your photographs from across Scotland and Northern Ireland last night.

BBC Weather Watchers/Rossi The aurora was captured over Nairn in the HighlandsBBC Weather Watchers/Rossi
The aurora was captured over Nairn on the Moray Firth
BBC Weather Watchers/Terrace views The colourful display of lights could be seen in Mallaig on the west Highland coastBBC Weather Watchers/Terrace views
The colourful display of lights could be seen in the Highland town of Mallaig
BBC Weather Watchers/Skye Ambulancewoman A wall of the green lights could be seen from Broadford in SkyeBBC Weather Watchers/Skye Ambulancewoman
A wall of the green lights could be seen from Broadford on Skye
BBC Weather Watchers/Sound-of-islay A Islay starry sky is coloured with the lights from the auroraBBC Weather Watchers/Sound-of-islay
A starry sky on the isle of Islay was coloured with the lights from the aurora
BBC Weather Watchers/South Uist Vibes The Northern Lights could has be spotted from Daliburgh on South Uist in the Western IslesBBC Weather Watchers/South Uist Vibes
The Northern Lights could has be spotted from Daliburgh on South UIst in the Western Isles
BBC Weather Watchers/Skywatcher It wasn't just the Highlands that saw the lights Haddington, East Lothian saw them tooBBC Weather Watchers/Skywatcher
It wasn't just the Highlands and islands that saw the lights. Haddington in East Lothian saw them too.
BBC Weather Watchers/Happy Snapper Northern Ireland also caught a glimpse of the aurora in LimavadyBBC Weather Watchers/Happy Snapper
Northern Ireland also caught a glimpse of the aurora. This picture was taken in Limavady.

Have you seen the Northern Lights. You can submit your pictures to BBC Weather Watchers or to scotlandpictures@bbc.co.uk.

Please ensure you adhere to the BBC's rules on photography that can be found here.

In contributing to BBC News you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way, including in any media worldwide.

However, you will still own the copyright to everything you contribute to BBC News.

At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe the law. You can find more information here.

All photos are subject to copyright.