Aurora borealis lights up skies over Lower Mainland

A spectacular view of aurora borealis appears above the Vancouver skyline. June 22, 2015. (CTV/David Newcomb)

People who gazed upon the stars in the Lower Mainland Monday night were treated to a rare view of the northern lights.

The spectacular light show, also known as aurora borealis, was visible in other parts of southern Canada as well, including as far east as Prince Edward Island.

The northern lights can be seen when charged particles collide with gasses in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Monday’s event was generated by a trio of coronal mass ejections from the sun, which created a magnetic storm, according to the U.S.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

And for anyone who missed it, the agency said Mother Nature may be providing another light show Tuesday night.

“Aurora watchers in North America, especially the northern tier states of the US, should stay alert,” the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center said in a release.

Here are some of the best pictures captured of the Lower Mainland skies:

And here's one from New Brunswick:

With files from CTVNews.ca