Northern lights put on a show over Ottawa-Gatineau

Northern lights over Britannia Park in Ottawa on Oct. 7, 2024. The aurora borealis was very animated and kicked into overdrive with multiple colors late in the evening. A spectacular show that was visible to the naked eye. (Steve Slaby/CTV Viewer)

Ottawa stargazers were treated to another spectacular light show, as the northern lights lit up the sky over the national capital region.

The aurora borealis was visible in Canada and the northern United States Monday night and Tuesday.  Photos sent to CTV News Ottawa and posted on social media showed the northern lights visible over Ottawa around 10 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the northern lights are caused by coronal mass injection from the sun that slams into the Earth's upper atmosphere. The Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles to the poles, creating the cinematic phenomenon.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the northern lights forecast calls for it to be visible further north from eastern Ontario tonight and Wednesday.

The northern lights delighted stargazers one day after a unique form of clouds, known as asperitas clouds, were spotted over Ottawa.