In pictures: Aurora Borealis lights up sky above Scotland

12 January 2021

News image — The Northern Lights from Munlochy on the Black Isle in the Highlands

Crabman/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Munlochy — The Northern Lights from Munlochy on the Black Isle in the Highlands

Displays of the Aurora Borealis were visible from north and north east Scotland overnight.

Also known as the Northern Lights, the aurora appear as shimmering waves of light when atoms in the Earth's high-altitude atmosphere collide with energetic charged particles from the sun.

BBC Weather Watchers photographed the "lights" from Shetland, the Highlands and Moray.

Simmer Dim/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Brae in Shetland — Brae, Shetland, was among the vantage points for observing the aurora overnight on Monday into Tuesday

Hopemanjaggie/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Hopeman — A view of the aurora from Hopeman on the Moray Firth coast

The Cutter/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Nairn — A colourful scene at Nairn on the Highlands' Moray Firth coast

Cloudcatcher/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Glenelg — The aurora from Glenelg in the west Highlands

Andy Walker/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Durness — This stunning image was captured at Durness by Andy Walker

Astronut/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Elgin — Clear skies over Moray offered opportunities to see the lights, including from Elgin

Freck Fraser/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Belladrum — Freck Fraser's image of the aurora from a snowy Belladrum near Beauly

Stu the plasterer/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Portmahomack — The green glow of the aurora from Portmahomack in the Highlands

Matt2901/BBC Weather Watchers Aurora, Uig — Bright lights of the aurora from Uig in the Highlands

All images subject to copyright

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