Northern Lights dazzle in North East and Cumbria

The Northern Lights glowing red and lighting up the Angel of the North, as someone standing behind takes a picture. — Image caption,
Gateshead's Angel of the North

11 October 2024

The Northern Lights have once again been visible across large swathes of north-east England and Cumbria.

According to BBC Weather, it was the strongest and most widespread show of lights in the UK since May.

The phenomenon, also known as aurora borealis, occurs when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere around the magnetic poles. Scientists have likened it to "a big sneeze by the Sun".

As the particles collide with the gases, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.

People from across the region sent images to the BBC.

Holy Island, at Northumberland, saw particularly vivid skies, while the Lake District was another spot for dramatic illuminations.

Two people taking photographs near a white hut, raised on stilts. The sky is lit red and green.

PA Media

The refuge hut on the causeway leading to Holy Island, Northumberland

A stone shelter on a hillside. Above the building there is colourful curtain of light - to the left are red lights, while to the right are green lights.

Mark Hetherington

Warnscale Bothy in Buttermere, Cumbria

Silhouette of a person reaching to the sky with one hand. The sky is lit with different colours including shades of red, purple, green and blue.

Ian McClelland

Newbottle, Sunderland

Dramatic red, pink and green light above a silhouette of a castle. Three small boats are on the water can be seen in the foreground.

PA Media

Holy Island, Northumberland

Purple skies behind an old-fashioned, black-and-white signpost pointing to Keswick, Buttermere and Whinlatter Pass.

Daphne Eddington

Braithwaite, Cumbria

Red and green lights in the sky above a tarn.

Mark Hetherington

Tewet Tarn near Keswick, Cumbria

A small boat on a trailer is parked on the left-hand side of the image, Behind it is Cullercoats lifeboat station, a brick building. The sky has red and green streaks of light.

Jonathan Kellager

Cullercoats, North Tyneside

A silhouette of a tree, as red and green lights swirl in the sky.

Nigel Craig

Threlkeld, Cumbria

A war memorial and trees in silhouette against a purple and green sky.

Carolyn Farthing-Dunn

Shotley Bridge, County Durham

Red and purple skies above a street lined with houses. Cars are parked outside some of the properties.

B Dabbous

Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees

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Northern Lights dazzle in North East and Cumbria

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