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STARGAZERS WERE TREATED to spectacular scenes last night as the Northern Lights lit up Irish skies, with Met Éireann saying a repeat showing is possible tonight.
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, was on show across the county with the sky painted in a mix of purple, pink and blue throughout the night and continuing into the early hours of the morning.
Short time lapse of last night’s aurora display at Burrow Beach. #sutton #dublin #ireland #northernlights pic.twitter.com/vRfN6WRkfy
— Sryan Bruen Photography (@sryanbruenphoto) August 13, 2024
In addition to the colourful display from the Northern Lights, the Perseid meteorite shower was also on show, with up to twenty times more shooting stars than on a normal night zooming across the night sky.
Very pleased with this... Northern Lights and Perseids Meteor Shower over Meols, on the Wirral, Merseyside, and the Irish Sea - in the early hours of Tuesday. #northernlights #Perseids2024 pic.twitter.com/s4YDk7fWkN
— Andrew Stuart (@AndrewStuart) August 13, 2024
The Perseid meteor shower takes place every summer over a number of weeks. It reached peak activity last night but stargazers still have a chance to catch some shooting starts, with the nighttime show expected to continue until around 24 August.
Met Éireann has said there will be an opportunity to see the Perseid meteor shower and possibly more Northern Lights this evening. Conditions will be best in the east of the country, with clear skies forecast.
Some opportunity tonight for viewing Perseids meteorite shower and possible aurora especially in the east with clear skies forecast
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 13, 2024
Tag us on your posts/pics about Perseids and Aurora
For details in your area see the cloud forecast below⤵️ pic.twitter.com/N7idZi7ygA
The Northern Lights are typically not visible this far south, but the Earth was hit by an intense solar storm on Monday, leading to a disruption in the Earth’s magnetic field and spectacular lights show.
With reporting from © AFP 2024.
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It was an amazing sight to behold. We are blessed with nature’s natural beauty so we are.
@Sean Money: Despite the incoming cloud, we were able to capture these shots at 11.30pm using an iPhone 12 – four seconds exposure: https://x.com/LaoisWeather/status/1823127085960872445
@Laois Weather: this is amazing shots. They would win a competition
@Master Tech: Obviously never been to Africa.
@Laois Weather: Fantastic shots. Well done
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: He saw it on movies so it must be true.
Happy to hear they were in Ireland last night. The my were on display in spectacular fashion here in Finland last night. The best I’ve ever seen.
Strong stuff that northern lights!
Can we turn out the street lights?
That was the first time I ever seen the lights in purple, I was thinking maybe Prince was shining down on us.
Carrington event on the horizon
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