Sky-gazers across Canada lit up social media on Saturday with photos of a Friday night Aurora Borealis spectacle.
The images show skies above parts of Newfoundland, Ontario, and Saskatchewan shimmering purple and green.
The Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, occurs when particles from the sun react with the earth’s atmosphere. The night-sky phenomenon is most commonly seen far north and away from city lights, but every once and a while the aurora dips further south.
Earlier this week, photographers spotted the lights in Hay Cove, N.L..
Hay Cove #Aurora #auroraborealias #northernlights #Newfoundland @ExploreNL #astrophotography pic.twitter.com/TZUONaX7Dw
— Adam Woodworth Photo (@AWoodworthPhoto) July 5, 2015
On Friday, sky-gazers throughout Ontario also reported seeing the phenomenon.
Confirmed #aurora in Central Ontario. #NorthernLights pic.twitter.com/BQ7SmOnRrz
— Robert Snache (@spirithands) July 11, 2015
The #northernlights made a nice appearance in Ontario last night. A beautiful array of colours danced across the sky. pic.twitter.com/VvmovJG7QT
— David T. Chapman (@DTChapmanPics) July 11, 2015
Rainbow Aurora - Arthur, ON July 10/11, 2015 #crazycolor @TamithaSkov @DTChapmanPics @eljakeo30 @TheUmno @digeratie pic.twitter.com/Kbq4Z8iknB
— Dave Patrick (@wwxchaser) July 11, 2015
The #NorthernLights paid a visit to @PTBO_Canada last night around 11pm. This shot was taken within city limits pic.twitter.com/vRGBO1zCLN
— Jay Callaghan (@caltek79) July 11, 2015
The lights were visible as far west as parts of Saskatchewan—but not everybody had an easy time spotting them.
Ongoing wildfires in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and B.C. caused a cloud cover that extended into the U.S. Friday, creating a haze cover in some areas.
The skies over Saskatchewan - June 10, 2015. #NorthernLights #ExploreSask #AuroraBorealis #ExploreCanada pic.twitter.com/FjtFxJlu2B
— Jill (@janejanejaneaaa) July 11, 2015
Smoke from the wild fires in Canada really put a damper on the #Auroras #auroraborealis in central Minnesota. #MNWX pic.twitter.com/CWFLtZZ1we
— Doug Kiesling (@WxPaparazzi) July 11, 2015