DID you see the Northern Lights last night (Sunday)?
They could be seen in some parts of Merseyside, according to reports.
Readers who are members of our sister title the Wirral Globe spotted the stunning Aurora Borealis in the skies above New Brighton.
The Aurora Borealis at King's Parade by Terri Tarrant Hightopp Clayton
Dave Mort was in New Brighton to capture the rare sighting and Terri Tarrant Hightopp Clayton used her Google phone to capture the scenes around 8pm on King's Parade.
People also reported seeing the display, called the aurora borealis, on Sunday night across Scotland, Merseyside and Wales.
According to the Met Office, the northern lights are usually best witnessed in Scotland, North England, North Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, under certain, space weather conditions, they can be seen throughout the UK.
The natural light display is caused by charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
The colour display depends in part on what molecules the charged particles interact with.
Red and green colours tend to be hallmarks of oxygen, pink and red the signs of nitrogen with blue and purple being the results of hydrogen and helium.
Dr Minjae Kim, research fellow, Department of Physics, University of Warwick, said: “During periods of heightened geomagnetic activity, the auroral ovals expand, allowing for sightings further south in the UK.
“While auroras are more commonly observed in northern regions like Scotland, seeing them in other parts of the UK, as seen last night in southern UK, is exceptionally rare.”
Late September to mid-March is generally considered the best period for aurora sightings.
Clear, cloud-free skies in dark locations with minimal light pollution, facing the northern horizon offer the best conditions for seeing the display.
Dr Kim said thar some of the best places for aurora viewing include: Brecon Beacons National Park, an international dark sky reserve in Wales; Exmoor National Park, an international dark sky reserve in England; Galloway Forest Park, an international dark sky park in Scotland; and Kerry international dark sky reserve in Ireland.
The prime viewing times are during the darkest hours usually from 11pm to midnight, but the lights are typically visible between 9pm and 2am.
Forecasting when the Northern Lights will be visible from the UK again is difficult but, according to the BGS Global geomagnetic activity forecast, no significant enhancements are expected.
Dr Kim said: “Geomagnetic activity is forecasted to remain relatively quiet for the remainder of this period.
“As a result, it might be challenging to observe the aurora.
“However, tonight (March 4-5) appears to be the most promising night for aurora viewing, albeit still not highly active.”
We'd love to see your shots of the Northern Lights - email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk
Terri Tarrant Hightopp Clayton saw the rare sight at 8pm
Dave Mort was in New Brighton to spot the lights
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here