And the good news for star gazers is that the phenomenon is expected to return tonight.
The Aurora Borealis were visible across the east and west coast, with sightings in Islay, North Uist, Linlithgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, the Hebrides and even Gourock.
The Met Office forecast clear conditions across the UK for Sunday night, saying the aurora borealis “may be visible as far south as central England tonight where skies remain clear”, adding that the lights are likely to be seen again on Monday night.
The moving patterns of green, blue, purple and red are caused by solar storms on the surface of the sun, which create clouds of electrically charged particles that are forcefully expelled.
Some of these particles collide with the Earth, with some becoming caught in the planet’s magnetic field, where they are attracted to the north and south poles.
This collection of particles collide with atoms and molecules already present in the atmosphere, heating them up and causing them to glow – creating the Northern Lights.
The Met Office forecast clear conditions across the UK for Sunday night, saying the aurora borealis “may be visible as far south as central England tonight where skies remain clear”, adding that the lights are likely to be seen again on Monday night.
![Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter account of @StLeonards_Head of the northern lights over St Andrews in Scotland. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmJiMTNiOTYzLWVkNTYtNDVmZS1iNGE3LWE4MWYzZDUxNGIxNjplNTg4NDlhOC0wODE0LTQ5MzktYjIxNy1lNzc5OTIyOWQyZWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. The Northern Lights over St Andrews in Scotland.
Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter account of @StLeonards_Head of the northern lights over St Andrews in Scotland. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023. Photo: Payton Cooney/St Leonard's School
![Drone imagery of the Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis over Stirling on Sunday evening (26th Feb) / Monday morning (27th Feb).](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjMyMGM1ZDcxLTdjNGMtNDc5Ny1hYmUwLTM0MTUwYjYyZDllMDpmZjM3MTlhZC05ZTAzLTRkYjMtYWQ2NS1kY2ZiZmEzNDNjZGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. Drone imagery of the Northern Lights over Stirling
Drone imagery of the Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis over Stirling on Sunday evening (26th Feb) / Monday morning (27th Feb). Photo: David Wilkinson / SWNS
![Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter account of @itshannahlclose of the northern lights over the Hebrides in Scotland. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjlmMzA4YTIxLTM0MjQtNGQ2NS04ODAyLTc5MDE3YTIzZDkxNDpjYzc5YTE2MS0zY2RmLTRmOWUtYjRiNC1jMzY4NjEwZDAwNDg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. The northern lights over the Hebrides in Scotland.
Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter account of @itshannahlclose of the northern lights over the Hebrides in Scotland. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023. Photo: Hannah Close
![The Northern Lights have been spotted across parts of Scotland](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjE1MGYyNWI0LTVlNWUtNGNlMS1hOWMwLWFmOTExOWY0MmFkZTo5OTk1OTZmMS0wZWYzLTRlODEtYTRiMy03MmRmYTVmZTVjMWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
12. Northern Lights in Linlithgow
The Northern Lights have been spotted across parts of Scotland Photo: Lisa Ferguson