BBC WeatherWatchers/Highland Dean Silhouetted figures raise their arms toward the sky beneath a striking display of red and green aurora lighting the night.BBC WeatherWatchers/Highland Dean

Weather watchers enjoy the bright skies over Dyke in Moray

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.

Michael MacDonald/Invergordon RNLI A lifeboat volunteers looks out from Invergordon's lifeboat across the sea towards a red and green aurora.Michael MacDonald/Invergordon RNLI

Volunteers of Invergordon RNLI had a good view of the Northern Lights

David/BBC Weather Watchers A red and green display of the aurora behind a church in Bonar Bridge.David/BBC Weather Watchers

A photograph of the Northern Lights taken from Bonar Bridge

BBC Weather Watchers/RockDodger A bright red and green aurora glows above a town and coastline, with city lights reflecting off the water beneath low clouds.BBC Weather Watchers/RockDodger

The colourful display of lights could be seen over the Clyde in Gourock

BBC WeatherWatchers/Leonard The aurora fills the sky with glowing red and green light above silhouetted railway power lines stretching across the scene.BBC WeatherWatchers/Leonard

The aurora was captured over Dunwoodie Mains in Dumfries and Galloway

BBC Weather Watchers/Wee Von Bands of red aurora streak upward above a dark hillside, with green light near the horizon and scattered clouds drifting across the scene.BBC Weather Watchers/Wee Von

A wall of the red lights could be seen from Lochgoilhead in Argyll and Bute

BBC Weather Watchers/Jane O Dark clouds illuminated from below by green aurora contrast with vivid red light glowing through the upper cloud layer over a rural landscape.BBC Weather Watchers/Jane O

Also in Argyll and Bute, this photo was taken in Achnacroish

BBC Weather Watchers/Skywatcher Green and red aurora colours shine through cloud over a coastal landscape, with a large driftwood log in the foreground on grassy ground.BBC Weather Watchers/Skywatcher

In East Lothian, the Northern Lights were visible above the seaside town of Cockenzie

BBC Weather Watchers/Golden Rules A red and green aurora arcs over rooftops and trees in a quiet residential area, with stars faintly visible in the night sky.BBC Weather Watchers/Golden Rules

It is much rarer to see the lights above cities like Edinburgh

BBC Weather Watchers/GeorgePhoenix Green and red aurora light is visible above a tree line and scattered clouds, with the side of a building and several parked objects visible in the foreground.BBC Weather Watchers/GeorgePhoenix

This pictures was taken in Kirkton of Airlie, Angus

BBC Weather Watchers/Nowhere Girl A gradient of green and magenta aurora light stretches across the night sky above rooftops, overhead power lines, and a leafless tree.BBC Weather Watchers/Nowhere Girl

The aurora looked more purple-toned above Clackmannanshire

Colin Conti/BBC Weather Watchers The aurora appears as pink, green and white and the display is reflected in the sea.Colin Conti/BBC Weather Watchers

Colin Conti’s image of the aurora from Hopeman in Moray

Adventures around Skye/BBC Weather Watchers A tree on the edge of a loch with the green glow of the aurora behind it.Adventures around Skye/BBC Weather Watchers

A view of the aurora from Skye

BBC Weather Watchers/Hol Red and green aurora colours appear in the night sky above a dark landscape.BBC Weather Watchers/Hol

Steness in Orkney was also treated to a light show

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

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