In pictures: Aurora Borealis lights up skies across Scotland

Striking red and green skies have been seen across Scotland as the Aurora Borealis lit up the sky nationwide.

The aurora - also known as the Northern Lights - appear as bright, swirling curtains of light in the night sky and range in colour from green to pink and scarlet.

The phenomenon was seen widely across Scotland on Monday, from Orkney in the north all the way to the Borders.

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

The two most common gases in the Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen atoms glow green - the colour most often seen in the Northern Lights, while nitrogen atoms emit purple, blue and pink.

The most impressive auroras occur when the Sun emits really large clouds of particles called "coronal mass ejections".

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the displays seen overnight were the result of the largest solar radiation storm in more than 20 years.

It said the last time these levels were observed was in October 2003.

Have you seen the Northern Lights. You can submit your pictures to BBC Weather Watchers or to [email protected].

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