The Northern Lights were visible in many parts of Ireland last night, with images of the rare spectacle coming in from all over the country.
Clear skies across much of the country gave many people a rare chance to enjoy the Aurora Borealis, a sight normally reserved for stargazers far further north.
Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather yesterday gave people advance warning of the treat in store, and on Newstalk Breakfast he explained what was behind last night’s display.
“So this was a solar flare that gave off what's called a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection), which is basically an explosion of plasma on the sun,” he said.
“So, it's a sunspot that explodes.
“It sends then a CME towards Earth and pretty much everything aligned last night – it was a full halo, and it arrived at the perfect time on a nice clear night when the moon wasn't too bright.
“It was an incredible display.”
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He said the stellar show came in fits and bursts throughout the night – but at its peak it was a “really, really intense display”.
Mr O’Reilly said the event came hot on the heels of a similar display back in May – noting that it is an “incredible thing” to see the Aurora so far south on two occasions in a matter of months.
He said anyone who missed out last night might have another opportunity this evening; however, the display is unlikely to be as strong.
“It's still going at the moment,” he said. “It's just we have daylight now, so we can't see it.
“Our friends in North America will be getting the photos and further along that part of the world.
“It is likely that it will ease off throughout today. It still could be there this evening but it's not likely to be as strong at all.”
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The forecaster said there is also likely to more cloud around, blocking the view in many areas.
“That's what can spoil these things; these things can often happen and cloud can come and spoil it,” he said.
He said anyone who missed last night's display has a "small chance" of seeing something similar tonight but "you could be disappointed tonight, I'm afraid".
